Psycho-social recovery
The impact of the conflicts and loss of life have left deep psychological scars in parts of the North Caucasus
- Population of Chechnya: 1 million
- Child population: 250,000
- Population of Beslan: 35,000
- Child population: 7,000
- Direct beneficiaries in North Ossetia: 10,000 children
- Direct beneficiaries in Chechnya: 50,000 children
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© 2006 UNICEF/Alena Svirid |
Rehabilitation after Beslan
Within days of the devastating 2004 Beslan School siege, UNICEF was providing vital medical supplies and equipment. Within five weeks UNICEF teamed up with local agencies to launch a psycho-social recovery programme in nearby Vladikavkaz. The Vladikavkaz rehabilitation centre has since brought healing and comfort to thousands of children and their relatives. Innovative treatments such as art and music therapy have made a difference for even the most severe cases. UNICEF provides materials, staff and specialist training, and scientific guidelines for rehabilitation. A Family Centre opened in Beslan itself in 2006 to supplement the work of the Vladikavkaz centre, to help whole families still struggling to rebuild their relationships.
The Centres touched the lives of 10,000 children, adults, and their caregivers in the first two years of operation.
Rehabilitation in Chechnya
The psychosocial rehabilitation programme for Chechen children has developed from the experience of the Beslan and Vladikavkaz centres. A Psychosocial Baseline Study conducted by UNICEF is the starting point for this new programme to treat posttraumatic stress disorders in children and their families. Phase one of the programme called for the opening of 14
childrens psychosocial rehabilitation centres in seven districts of the republic. By the end of 2007 all of Chechnya's 17 districts should have such centres. With the local authorities and NGOs, UNICEF identifies suitable locations for rehabilitation centres, trains psychologists and other staff, and conducts research on the impact of the conflict on children. Fifty local child
specialists have been trained with the help of prominent psycho-therapists from Israel and St. Petersburg. A Psychosocial Steering Committee was created with the Chechen authorities to coordinate the programme. The Psychosocial Action Plan for 2008 - 2012 will become a key instrument in easing the impact of the conflict on children.
