Devastated streets in Grozny, Chechnya. Since 2004 security conditions have worsened throughout the northern Caucasus. In Chechnya, President Akhmad Kadirov and the separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov both died in violent circumstances. Clashes place a heavy burden on the inhabitants, and everyday life is punctuated by arrests, disappearances and hostage-taking. The ICRC intends to pursue its protection and assistance activities in the region for civilians. However, the lack of security is hindering this strictly humanitarian work.