The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has delivered equipment to the first 13 families among those supported under the program of micro-economic initiatives (MEI) in Tskhinval. The program started at the end of July 2009 with dissemination sessions for families residing in the nine collective centers for displaced persons. Totally, the ICRC has received 116 project proposals, mainly in the field of small production and services, among which 55 were selected as most realistic and result-oriented.
The micro-economic initiatives are coupled with basic business skills development training for people who present the applications, which usually precedes equipment delivery and the actual start of the project. With this comprehensive approach towards the MEI program, the ICRC expects to achieve better outcome in terms of the vulnerable families' ability to generate and sustain their income.
The ICRC is now expanding its MEI activities to the most vulnerable rural areas, where, due to the conflict as well as long economic stagnation and isolation, people have limited access to basic services and face lack of capacities to run their farmhouses. This pilot activity commenced in Balta area, where all the eight villages of the region will be covered by the program. Here, taking into account the livelihood habits and community-based mindset, the ICRC would encourage joint projects of two or three families.
Meanwhile, the ICRC will continue providing humanitarian assistance to most vulnerable population in rural areas to help them through the winter ahead.
Currently, a team of around 80 expatriate and national staff work for the ICRC in Tskhinval. The ICRC maintains constant dialogue with the authorities, coordinating its efforts in providing humanitarian aid to the population.
