Chechnya: significant increase in returns

According to UNHCR monitoring of the two border checkpoints between Chechnya and Ingushetia there was a significant increase in return movement to Chechnya last week. More than 5,000 IDPs have returned to their homes since the presidential elections on 26 March and more than 500 persons per day are seen returning to Chechnya. The return movement has taken place so far without any reported incidents. Over the same period, no new arrivals of IDPs have been registered in Ingushetia. The majority of the returnees are leaving one or two persons of the family behind in Ingushetia in case hostilities flare up again.

Assistance convoy number 46 left for Ingushetia on Monday, April 10. UNHCR has sent a total of 54 convoys with relief items to the region for a total cost of over 4.8 million US dollars. Items in the latest convoys include wheat flour, rice and tents.