Refugees from Erzi Camp in Ingushetia fear disconnection of utilities

In the morning on November 3, the forced migrants or internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Chechnya and North Ossetia, who have been living for about twenty years in the so-called "temporary accommodation centres" (TACs), located in the territory of Ingushetia, were disconnected from the electricity supply. Around 200 persons, including elderly ones, invalids and children, remained without power. After their complaints, the electricity supply was resumed; however, the refugees fear that all the utilities may be cut off.

"The fact that residents of the TAC 'Erzi' remained without electricity was reported by one of them - Zaur Askanov, who specially came for that to the Human Rights Centre (HRC) 'Memorial'," Vakha Chapanov, the head of the Ingush news agency "Maximum", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "According to electricians, who referred to the order of the city administration, the power disconnection was 'the first warning', which will be followed by disconnection of water and gas - the vitally important utilities."

He also noted that some time earlier an electricity cut-off was registered in the refugees' TAC, located in the village of Aliy-Yurt; however, after interference of the Ingush Ombudsman, the supply was resumed.

According to Chapanov, such actions are undertaken with the aim to speed up the exit of refugees from the TACs. "In the presence of representatives of various international organizations, our government promised not to evict refugees, and if so, only into the housing facilities provided by local authorities," said the source. "However, the reality is quite different: utilities are cut-off, and nothing is offered instead - people just have nowhere to go."

According to the refugees living in Erzi, the electricians, who came to execute the order of the administration of Nazran, showed them the statement about disconnection of electricity, but did not allow anybody to read it.

Khadi Alkhasova, the acting head of the administration of the city of Nazran, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that she knew nothing about the power cut-off at the TAC "Erzi", but agreed to comment on the situation in the barracks, where temporary migrants have to live.

"The barracks, in which they live, were designed for a maximum of five years; however, twenty years have passed," she said. "They are unfit for living. The barracks are in emergency condition and pose a real threat to refugees' lives."

According to her story, the administration of Nazran is searching housing facilities for IDPs; the latter may also do it by themselves - the flats will be paid for by the government of the Republic of Ingushetia at the rate of 5000 five thousand roubles per month per family.

Ms Alkhasova said that the documents on refugees' eviction from TACs are sent to the court for making a judicial decision; it is done "for their own good." "Fire-fighters and 'Rosptrebnadzor' (Russian Federal Agency for Consumer Supervision) - they all have concluded that living there is dangerous," the source continued. "If, God forbid, something terrible happens tomorrow, who will be responsible?"

The high-ranking lady could not formulate the reasons why refugees would not leave the TACs; however, she suggested that people got accustomed - within the two decades - to live as one community; and they do not conceive their existence outside thereof.

A resident of the TAC "Erzi" named Rosa did not agree with Alkhasova: she is sure that the main reason why refugees cannot leave the TACs is in the impossibility to rent housing in Nazran for 5000 roubles per month.

The power supply to "Erzi" residents was resumed; however, the refugees are in no hurry to rejoice. "They did it after we had complained everywhere, after we cried a lot, saying that children and disabled people live with us there," a woman-IDP told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "But it's too early for us to rejoice: the power was hooked up temporarily. Besides, we look forward with fear, as at any moment communal workers may come and cut off other utilities."