Last refugees left Bart camp in Ingushetia

Only several dozens of tents are left in Bart, a camp for Chechen refugees situated in the Ingush town of Karabulak. Inhabitants of this temporary accommodation center leave the camp under pressure of the authorities. Some of them depart for Chechnya, however many refugees prefer staying on the territory of Ingushetia and resettle to other temporary accommodation centers or to the private sector.

The process of the internally displaced persons' return has accelerated considerably after Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Migration Service Igor Yunash announced that the Bart camp would be closed beginning from March 1, 2004. "It is not economically viable for us to maintain tent camps with less than 1,000 tenants," he said.

Editors note: See also the articles "Authorities intend to close Bart tent refugee camp", "Anna Politkovskaya denies information about "decent conditions" being created for Chechen refugees".