Number of Hunger Strikers
Increases in Pankisi on a Daily Basis
The Georgian Times 02-06-03
By Keti Lomaia
Chechen refugees inhabiting the Pankisi gorge arranged a hunger strike on May
22. The number of hunger strikers increases in Pankisi on a daily basis. The Chechen
refugees demand that their basic living conditions are improved.
According to Baudi Itayev, 46, head of the Chechen refugees’ committee from
Grozno, their hunger strike is aimed at bringing the attention of Katherine Bertrand,
UN Refugees High Commissioner to Georgia, to the Chechen refugees' problems, as
she is personally responsible for assisting the solution of their problems. The
refugees addressed Ms. Bertrand with letters twice, however, they got no response
from her whatsoever.
Currently, Ibragim Sardalov, Abdullah Tesayev, Aslan Askhabov, Luiza Dukayeva
and Arbi Tesayev are conducting the hunger strike in Pankisi. Baudi Itayev is
conducting his hunger strike in Tbilisi.
"We exist in unbearable conditions. Most of the refugees are fainting from hunger.
Our children fall ill with numerous diseases because they are not provided with
basic nutrition. The UN provides 27 kg of flour, 3 kg of beans and 1 kg of butter
and sugar once every two months. Judge for yourself how we can live with this
much food for 2 months.
In addition to the food ration that I already mentioned, the UN has to provide
us with meet and fish. The Chechen refugees have not seen meat and fish for months
now. When we asked why we are not provided with meat and fish, we got no answer.
We demand that a humanitarian food distribution committee is established, which
will divide the aid among the refugees. Besides, the Chechen refugees living in
Tbilisi are not getting any humanitarian assistance. This cannot be justified
logically.
56 Chechen families live in Tbilisi. Don't you think they deserve to exist at
least? There are no refugee camps in Georgia because refugees living in Tbilisi
and Pankisi have to pay their own rent. We do not have any sources of income.
How can we exist in such conditions?
We do not have any claims against the Georgian government and people. Georgians
helped us as much as they could. 100 Chechen refugees have no refugee status up
to date because of the irresponsible attitude of the UN, which monitors the refugees
here in Georgia. We would return to our homes with pleasure. However, many of
them were made to return to Georgia. Some of them were killed, some others disappeared.
The UN ignores our demands. This is what made us conduct a hunger strike. We demand
a meeting with Richard Miles, ambassador of the US in Georgia. He was sent a letter,
where we address the US to assist us. The hunger strike will continue until we
are not paid sufficient attention. The Chechens are in solidarity with us. They
are ready to join us any moment," said Baudi Itayev to the GT.
2 more hunger strikers joined the so far 7-day-long protest action. Their number
is growing on a daily basis. In spite of this, no one from the UN contacted the
hunger strikers so far. On May 28 doctors arrived to check the health of the strikers.
The state of 6 of them was evaluated as being in medium danger.