The European Commission has earmarked humanitarian aid worth 1.3 MECU for homeless people and tuberculosis sufferers in the Russian Federation. The grant, to be channelled via the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable three nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) working in St Petersburg and Moscow to continue the programmes started in these cities.

The economy of the Russian Federation as a whole is showing signs of revival. But the gap between rich and poor is widening. NGOs working in the field are reporting increasing numbers of streetchildren in St Petersburg, of homeless people in Moscow, and of tuberculosis sufferers, especially in Vorenesh.

This grant, to cover a period of five months, will enable two German NGOs, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund and Deutsche Ärztegemeinschaft für Medizinische Zusammenarbeit, to carry out programmes. Médecins sans Frontières-Belgium will also participate. They will provide shelter, cooked food, medical supplies and basic healthcare in St Petersburg and Moscow, as well as vaccinations in Vorenesh.