#17 - JRL 8369 - JRL Home
Subject: mental trauma of chechen IDPs - medical study
From: "Polly MARKANDYA" <Polly.MARKANDYA@london.msf.org>
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004

Dear David,

My name is Polly and I work for the aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres. We haven't met, but your name and e-mail address was given to me by Tom at IWPR, who suggested I get in contact as MSF has just released a report on the effects that the ongoing conflict has had on the mental health of Chechen IDPs both inside Chechnya and in neighbouring Ingushetia. It's a long and detailed report which took over two years to compile.

The MSF report highlights the vulnerability of this population and that the current policy of moving people against their will is unacceptable. Among other things, MSF's study reveals that about 90% of people in the Chechen camps, and 80% in Ingushetia, had had someone close to them die as a result of the war-related violence. Over two thirds of respondents said that the conflict had triggered mental disturbance.

The report was highlighted in this week's medical journal, The Lancet. I am attaching a PDF of this short article [DJ: Not here in JRL] - the full 44 page report is available on our website: http://www.uk2.msf.org/reports/chechnya.htm

Kind regards,

Polly Markandya
Publications Officer
Medecins Sans Frontieres, London
direct line: +44 (0)20 7067 4205
mobile phone: +44 (0)79 666 777 25

To support MSF, or simply to check the latest information on MSF's medical humanitarian work around the world, visit our website: http://www.uk.msf.org