At least 18,000 Russian soldiers and many times that number of Chechens have died in two wars since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, when Chechnya claimed independence. Hundreds of thousands of people been displaced, and Chechnya has become increasingly lawless, making it dangerous for aid workers and reporters as well as civilians.

In March 2005, AlertNet asked 103 humanitarian professionals, media personalities, academics and policymakers which "forgotten" crises they would urge the media to focus on in 2005. The conflict in Chechnya took seventh place in the AlertNet top 10 “forgotten” emergencies.

It's almost impossible to find regular updates on the situation in Chechnya. That could partly be because few, if any, international organizations are present there, but also because journalists have no free access. Veronica Yates Emergencies communications officer, Save the Children Alliance
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The overall situation in the region is deteriorating, the responsible authorities in Russia is not addressing the human suffering and lack of security and level of trauma caused by the forces fighting in Chechnya. The civilian population feel they have no one speaking up for them. International agencies are not allowed by the Russian authorities to intervene, and massive corruption make this region more unstable as long as the economic and social situation deteriorates. Anna Morck Project manager, Norwegian Refugee Council
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Once again, the West is colluding in this war because we don't want to upset Mr. Putin. Russia's war there (which has left 200,000 Chechens dead and killed 13,000 Russian troops) led to Beslan. And the rebel leader who planned Beslan now threatens more of the same and warns his campaign of terror will spread until the Russians stop killing Chechen civilians. We've been blinded to what's happening in Chechnya by the horror of Beslan. Jonathan Miller Foreign affairs correspondent, Channel 4 News, UK
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Human rights infringements and abuses targeting civilians takes place on a daily basis in Chechnya and in the North Caucasus region. In 2004 we saw an increasing spiral of violence and terrorist attacks in the region -- such as seen in Ingushetia, North-Ossetia and Karachayevo-Cherkessia, and there is a danger that this will escalate even further in 2005.

The international community needs to maintain its focus on Chechnya and to strongly encourage the Russian authorities to find a political solution to the conflict -- as opposed to their current military approach under the banner "war against terrorism", which only seems to radicalise the conflict. Laurie MacGregor Norwegian Church Aid