Aki Yurt camp of Chechen refugees in Ingushetia closed

Russian authorities have closed down Ingushetia's Aki Yurt camp, evicting some 1,500 displaced Chechens despite appeals by the UN refugee agency, which is now trying to follow up on their location and condition.

Russian authorities had earlier announced that Aki Yurt camp in northern Ingushetia would be closed down on Sunday, December 7. By on December 3, all the tents were gone and the last three families left for Chechnya. Several large tents used by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for activities in the camp remained, and the Ingush authorities have asked the NGOs to dismantle them.

According to initial estimates by local monitors in the camp, just under half of Aki Yurt's population remains in Ingushetia, presumably living either with host families or in existing temporary settlements. Up to 300 people ? many of them elderly ? are living in six temporary settlements adjacent to Aki Yurt camp. Another 21 families continue to live in mud brick houses they had managed to build on the former campsite.

The agency has sought assurances from Ingush authorities that gas and electricity will remain available to those staying on or near the campsite. However, supplies were cut off on December 3 in all the mud brick houses and five out of six temporary settlements. Families were seen burning wood from the dismantled tents to keep warm.

As for those who have gone back to Chechnya, UNHCR ? which has no presence in the republic ? has asked its implementing partners in Chechnya to try to identify people who have returned from Aki Yurt in recent days.