This is not for simple-minded to say "Don't meddle our internal affairs"

Report from United Nations (Nov. 20, 1999) --- A senior Russian official has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Chechen refugee camps, saying the settlements have heated tents, electricity and even mobile saunas.

The assessment yesterday by Sergy Khetagurov, deputy minister for emergency situations, contrasted sharply with that of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, who visited the Chechen border region this week.

Ogata reported Friday that she witnessed many traumatized refugees at a train settlement, living in conditions that included poor drainage and sanitation, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

The Chechens received only one hot meal a day and were very vocal in their frustration about wanting the fighting to stop so they could return home, he said.

Russian forces have launched air and artillery attacks against Chechen towns in an attempt to wipe out militants. The Russian attacks have forced some 200,000 civilians to flee into the neighboring Republic of Ingushetia.

Khetagurov acknowledged the living conditions for Chechen refugees were difficult and that the tents were not well-equipped for long-term living.

"But there were a lot of representatives of different missions, including Mrs. Ogata, who confirmed that there is no humanitarian catastrophe," he told a news briefing.

Tents had heating and electrical lighting "and they are equipped with some sanitary equipment including some mobile saunas," he said through an interpreter. "And today we state with satisfaction that there are no outbreaks of epidemics or infection diseases."

Russia is at pains to downplay the humanitarian situation in the refugee areas around Chechnya, fearing outside interference in its internal handling of the Chechen war.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recently called for the Security Council to give more consideration to so-called humanitarian intervention," --- a call Russia has resoundingly rejected.