Geneva, 23 June 2000 (RFE/RL) - The UN humanitarian coordinator for the Russian Federation is appealing to international donors for nearly $22 million to aid Chechen refugees. John McCallin said today that most will go to help the 280,000 people who have fled from Chechnya, principally the Russian Republic of Ingushetia. He said funds are also required for about 150,000 displaced people inside Chechnya.
The coordinator said that UN agencies generally remain outside Chechnya because of security concerns. But, he said, increased UN monitoring inside the republic will soon enable UN workers to make a better assessment of needs there.