On March 23 the distribution of hot meals was stopped in "Bart" refugee camp. On April 3 bread became no longer available. At refugee camps in Nazran and Sleptsovskaya village, bread supplies stopped on April 2.

A week before that, hot meals disappeared. The same is occurring in refugee camps near Yandar, Malgobek, Ali-Yurt, Nesterovskaya and Voznesenskaya villages. According to Ingush officials, food supplies were stopped because of the huge debt of about 140 million rubles on the part of the Federal administration. However, the refugees attribute the situation to the long-expressed plans of the Chechen administration to stop humanitarian aid in Ingushetia to try to force Chechens back toChechnya.

In response, Maryam Dashaeva, a representative of the "Bart" refugee camp, declared that "Even if Kadyrov and Putin stop all humanitarian aid, we won't go back home until the Russian army and secret services quit killing and terrorizing us in Chechnya. We want a safe and sound environment in which to raise ourchildren."

The transfer of some humanitarian work to Chechnya is indeed necessary, because some of the people are living there in much worse conditions than in Ingushetia -- virtually starving.

This doesn't mean, of course, that all aid to the refugees must stop -- especially in view of the fact that international humanitarian organizations cannot control the distribution of food and medicine in Chechnya.

GLASNOST - Caucasus Daily News Service

Excerpt from report from the UN's World Food Program (WFP)

(C) Northern Caucasus: (1) Ingushetia, (2) Chechnya

a) Donors have so far pledged USD 4.3 million for the current WFP emergency operation (EMOP) in the Northern Caucasus. This represents only 18 percent of the requirement. During March, there have been almost no distributions of WFP food in either Ingushetia or Chechnya due to poor funding and lack of food supplies.

(1) Ingushetia

a) Danish Refugee Council (DRC) registered 2,149 new IDPs from Chechnya, in Ingushetia, during the last two weeks. The total number of IDPs in Ingushetia (as of 31 March) is 154,211.

b) Due to the breakdown of WFP food pipeline, no basic food rations were distributed in March in any IDP camps, except for 457 tons of wheat flour for about 33,600 beneficiaries. Some small distributions of food supplied by other agencies and donors have been carried out.

c) WFP monitored food distribution centres run by DRC and interviewed the beneficiaries. All beneficiaries expressed dismay over the lack of distribution of WFP food rations during March. WFP food monitors also conducted a market survey of daily consumable food items in all four districts of Ingushetia. The survey revealed that prices of wheat flour, pasta and edible oil have risen, compared to February, while the prices of fresh vegetables have gone down.

d) The Government of Russian Federation approved a resolution, which provides for food assistance to IDPs living in Ingushetia and transportation assistance on their return to Chechnya. Budgetary allocation of Rur 500 million has been made for food distributions. According to the Ministry responsible, bread and one hot meal per day will be provided to about 50,000 IDPs living in camps and other official settlements, effective 1 May. The allocated funds are expected to last for about two months.

e) The President of the Republic of Ingushetia stated that international humanitarian assistance to IDPs in the Republic is still needed. During the meeting with the UN team, the President also urged the international community to support Ingush families who have been hosting IDPs for more than one year and have been facing severe hardship to maintain their generous hospitality.

(2) Chechnya

a) Federal Minister for the Chechen Republic announced that about 7,000 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) might return to Chechnya, from Ingushetia, by the end of May and emphasised the need to create conditions conducive for voluntary return. He asked the international community to channel more humanitarian assistance inside Chechnya. Fluid security conditions have so far hampered access and regular presence of humanitarian workers inside Chechnya.

b) No WFP food commodities were supplied this month, except for 10 tons of high-energy biscuits, distributed to 6,000 school children in Achkoy-Martan district bordering Ingushetia. Small distributions of food aid supplied by other agencies and donors have been carried out.