About the Danish Refugee Council

Moscow - The United Nations received a letter today from the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Chechen Republic, Mr. Vaikhanov, in which he recommended that the Danish Refugee Council suspend its activity in the territory of Chechnya in the interest of staff safety. We welcome the attention of the Government to the safety of humanitarian workers.

The Danish Refugee Council is the largest among dozens of nongovernmental organizations that are partners to the United Nations in providing humanitarian and recovery assistance in Chechnya and its neighboring republics. An interruption in their activities implies hardship for the vulnerable civilians in Chechnya who rely on material assistance and protection. Therefore, the United Nations is hopeful that the safety concerns expressed by the Government will quickly pass and not hamper the ongoing humanitarian program.

From: ReliefWeb.int