The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has issued a revised appeal of 1.86 million Swiss francs (USD 1.6 million/euro 1.23 million) to extend long-term psychosocial support programmes to victims of the Beslan school hostage crisis and to the general population of North Ossetia. Last September, the hostage-taking in Beslan, North Ossetia, left more than 330 people dead, some 300 injured and thousands traumatised.
The funds requested include the original appeal of 865,000 Swiss francs, launched by the International Federation on 6 September, and will be used to provide a variety of psychosocial support programmes, managed by the Russian Red Cross (RRC), to 5,000 people over the next 20 months.
“These Russia Red Cross assistance programmes are designed for the ex-hostages, their families and friends, as well as for staff and volunteers working to support the victims, in other words, people who have been most severely affected by these tragic events,” explains Miro Modrusan, desk officer for Russia at the Federation’s Secretariat in Geneva. “The trauma caused by the massacre will last for years to come and it is absolutely vital that people be offered long-term assistance to overcome their lingering fears and stress.”
The appeal will finance the setting up of a psychosocial support programme to be incorporated within the existing school curricula in North Ossetia. Professional psychologists will train teachers on how to conduct stress-reducing activities for students and for their parents.
The funds will also be used to build a community social centre in Beslan, managed by the Russian Red Cross, as a base for activities designed to help the local population cope with the psychological impact of the hostage crisis. The activities will include play rooms, a physiotherapy room, computer access, counselling support groups for children and adults.
A network of 30 visiting nurses and social workers, based at the North Ossetia branch of the RRC will visit affected families, to monitor their needs and make sure they receive adequate assistance, both medical and psychological.
Since the hostage-taking, the Russian Red Cross has been distributing medical supplies to hospitals as well as cash contributions and relief assistance to affected families from the donations that poured in from the Russian and international public. Its role was also essential in assessing the population’s long-term needs and designing appropriate measures, which do not overlap with existing governmental and other programmes being put in place.