| MARGARITA
PLOTNIKOVA
©INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
|
The
tragedy in Beslan has shaken the entire world. Some
338 people were killed during the siege; 90 people have not
been identified and 75 may still be unaccounted for. Local
doctors say that some 12,000 people, direct or indirect victims
of the tragedy, will need psychological support in future.
Since the beginning of the crisis on 1 September, the ICRC
has been in touch with the authorities concerned and has brought
in medical assistance to the hospitals in North Ossetia. This
assistance continued in the following days and allowed the
local medical staff to cope with the big influx of wounded.
As the full scale of the tragedy unfolded, the ICRC delivered
medical stocks including anaesthetics, antibiotics, syringes,
infusions, sterile bandages, surgical material and bed linen
to the hospitals in Vladikavkaz where the majority of the
victims were evacuated. “We have done our best to meet
the specific needs reported to us by the doctors,” said
Georg Cunz, head of the ICRC mission in the northern Caucasus.
“Of course, we stand ready to provide additional medical
and other aid if new needs should arise. This includes direct
assistance for the families of victims.”
Based on the requests of the doctors and the analysis of
the situation, the ICRC also delivered lung-ventilation machines,
electric suction machines, laryngoscopes and a range of other
items including a large surgical set. “This equipment
is typically used in emergency and post-emergency medicine,”
said Dr Cleto Chashi, the ICRC’s medical coordinator
in the northern Caucasus. “For example, it will enable
staff to monitor the patients’ status, to help them
breathe and to inject medication.” Once the current
emergency is over, the equipment will be used to monitor patients
with complications arising from pneumonia or tuberculosis,
or during routine operations.
|
The
emergency needs have been basically covered but as time passes,
long-term needs such as rehabilitation and psychological support
will have to be addressed. Psychological support is an essential
part of the international appeal launched by the Russian Red
Cross and the International Federation to which the response
has been substantial. Psychologists of the Russian Red Cross
are working in close cooperation with specialists from the
Serbsky Centre for Judicial and Social Psychology, the leading
institute in the country that has a history of dealing with
the effects of hostage taking in emergency situations, such
as in the Moscow theatre in 2002.
International assistance to the victims in Beslan has been
substantial. The aid arrived from various National Societies,
including Danish, German, Norwegian Red Cross Societies and
many others. Medical assistance was distributed to the hospitals
in Vladikavkaz and Beslan, toys and other items have been
distributed individually among the families in Beslan. The
deputy head of the North Ossetian branch of the Russian Red
Cross says: “We can’t hold back tears when visiting
a family where four children were killed. We cry together
with the relatives. They receive us very warmly, despite the
unbelievable sorrow...” Overall, the Russian Red Cross
gathered over US$ 3 million and has set up a public council
to decide on the distribution of these funds.
“The tragedy in Beslan is another terrible chapter
in the region where we have been working for over ten years
helping to alleviate the suffering of civilian population
affected by the conflicts,” says Marco Altherr, ICRC
head of delegation in Russia. “We believe there are
still needs for the ICRC to address in the northern Caucasus,
and we plan to continue our activities to help the most vulnerable
ones.” |
MARGARITA
PLOTNIKOVA
©INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION
|
