OCHA Situation Report
Georgia: South Ossetia
23 September 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

RECENT EVENTS/HIGHLIGHTS

   Efforts towards peaceful conflict resolution continue despite setbacks

   South Ossetia requires more attention by international community in
   view of its humanitarian and basic rehabilitation needs


BACKGROUND

The South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast consisted of the four districts of
Tskhinvali, Akhalgori (formerly Leningori), Java, and Znauri. Tskhinvali,
the capital of the Oblast, is a half hour's drive north of Gori, the
administrative centre of the Georgian region of Shida Kartli. In 1989, the
Supreme Soviet of the Oblast declared its intention to raise its status to
that of an Autonomous Republic within Georgia. The Georgian authorities
annulled this decision and further revoked South Ossetia's status as an
Autonomous Oblast. A violent conflict ensued during 1989-1992.

As a direct consequence of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, South Ossetia
and adjoining regions of Georgia proper, including Gori, suffered
substantial material damage, and over 60,000 individuals, mainly ethnic
Ossetians, were displaced from their homes. Some 40,000 of them crossed
into North Ossetia in the Russian Federation and became refugees. At the
same time as the conflict raged, several violent earthquakes and
aftershocks struck the region, causing significant damage, particularly in
Java.

As early as the summer of 1992, an attempt was made to seek an amicable
solution to the conflict and to establish an end to the hostilities. A
cease-fire agreement was signed, leaving the authorities of the former
Oblast in control of Tskhinvali, Java, Znauri and parts of Akhalgori, and
the central Government in control of Akhalgori and several isolated ethnic
Georgian villages. A peacekeeping force from the region was deployed.
These forces consist of joint Russian, Ossetian and Georgian troops and
are known as the Joint Peacekeeping Force or JPKF.

In 1992, a mission from the Conference on Security and Cooperation in
Europe (CSCE), later renamed as the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), was requested by the Georgian and South
Ossetian sides to help mediate and promote a peaceful resolution to the
conflict. With the OSCE's facilitation, the Georgian-Ossetian conflict
settlement machinery has evolved. This machinery has two principal
components: political negotiations of Georgian and South Ossetian
plenipotentiary delegations with the participation of Russia, North
Ossetian authorities, and the OSCE; and the Joint Control Commission
(JCC), which supports confidence-building measures and serves as a
mechanism for the sides to address issues of mutual concern while leaving
the issue of the region's political status to the political negotiators.

The JCC has three principal working groups: 1) On Military and Security
Issues; 2) On Economic Issues; 3) On Refugees and IDPs. All four parties
(i.e. Georgia, Russia, North Ossetia and South Ossetia) and the OSCE are
represented on the JCC Working Groups. In addition, the JPKF is a
participant on the working group on Military and Security Issues, the
European Commission (EC) on the working group on economic issues, and the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the working group
on refugees and IDPs.

During the early phases of the conflict, international humanitarian
agencies addressed the emergency needs of the population. Later, during
1996-1999, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) addressed
confidence building and development needs through a US$2 million project
designed to rehabilitate essential components of the region's
infrastructure. The UNDP project relied on an innovative system of joint
technical groups with representatives from the Georgian and South Ossetian
sides that identified and approved projects by consensus. Similarly, in
1998, the European Union (EU) issued a budget line to facilitate the
normalisation of relations between the two sides and has allocated several
million ECU for the rehabilitation of the region's infrastructure,
including electricity and gas distribution networks and the railway line.
Notwithstanding the achievements of the EU and UNDP programmes, much need
for rehabilitation and development work remains.

In 1997, in light of progress on the political front and further
reductions in tension and a steady improvement in the security
environment, UNHCR began programming designed to create conditions for the
return of IDPs and refugees to the region. As at end-2002, UNHCR has
facilitated return and assisted 1,320 refugees/IDP families (4,437
individuals) and assisted 65 vulnerable/"war-affected" families (194
individuals), and 30 IDP families/secondary occupiers (104 individuals).
However, an overwhelming number of IDPs and returnees remain displaced.
Vigorous efforts by UNHCR and its implementing partners to promote a
voluntary, safe, and dignified return of refugees and IDPs to their places
of origin have had only limited results. Until economic conditions improve
and basic services such as healthcare and utilities are adequately
restored, and the number and potential for income generating opportunities
is sufficiently increased, many if not most refugees and IDPs will remain
reluctant to return to their places of origin.

In November 2001, local presidential elections, unrecognised by the
international community, were held in South Ossetia. This resulted in the
defeat of the incumbent and a relatively peaceful transfer of power to the
new de facto President and administration. At present, the central
authorities in Tbilisi continue to exercise little direct control over the
region. Despite the South Ossetian authorities' declaration of
independence from Georgia in 1990, the region's status continues to be the
focus of negotiations, and the international community remains firmly
committed to Georgia's territorial integrity. The separation of the
negotiations on political status from other issues under the auspices of
the JCC allows the sides to maintain a level of pragmatism to continue to
resolve issues of mutual concern.

Pragmatism is also evidenced in the attitude of the local populations
residing on each side of the "cease-fire line." Much of the adult
population speaks Ossetian, Georgian and Russian to varying degrees of
proficiency, a sign of the close interethnic ties that prevailed
throughout the region prior to the conflict. The local population on both
sides enjoys freedom of movement across the lines of de facto South
Ossetian-Georgian control. The freedom of movement refers to both ethnic
Georgian enclaves under de facto South Ossetian administration and the
population from South Ossetia and Georgia proper in general. A regular bus
service operates between Tskhinvali and Gori. Georgian villagers bring
their produce to the Tskhinvali market, and transactions take place in a
variety of currencies, including the Russian ruble, US dollar and Georgian
lari, although the economy is based primarily on the ruble.

In early 2002, and later in Autumn 2002, there were some negative
developments in political talks and security repercussions on the ground.
This to a certain extent impeded the peace-settlement process, which
suffered along with the authority of the JCC being questioned. At the same
time, the level of criminality, an acute problem in South Ossetia, has
been intermittently on the rise. However, despite those passing tensions,
the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict settlement process continued. The
momentum in the Georgian-Ossetian negotiations was reflected in regularity
of meetings held within the framework of the JCC in 2002 and 2003. As a
result, some agreements were reached on important issues related to urgent
security matters, economic rehabilitation, and IDPs/refugees. Moreover,
the finalisation of the Russian-Georgian Intergovernmental Programmes on
Economic Rehabilitation in the Zone of Conflict in December 2001 and
working on the draft law on Return, Integration and Re-integration of
Refugees and IDPs would be conducive to further deepening of confidence
and rehabilitation between the two sides.

On economic issues, the sides shared the view that rehabilitation in the
zone of conflict played a growing role in the overall conflict settlement
process. In November 2002, they expressed their readiness to participate
in the EU joint Customs Control project, a joint taxation scheme on
transit cargo traffic through South Ossetia the proceeds of which would be
beneficial for the population in the zone of conflict. This, and other
economic rehabilitation projects funded by the EU, were to be implemented
and administered under the aegis of the OSCE through its field office in
Tskhinvali. In exchange for agreement on joint taxation scheme, the EU
would go ahead with the 2.5 million Euro in rehabilitation funds (1999
budget), mainly foreseen for road rehabilitation. However, de facto South
Ossetian authorities reiterated they would not make any concessions, i.e.
accept conditionalities, which would impede the sovereignty of the
territory they control. The negotiations over these projects are still
underway.

>From 26 to 29 October 2002, the 8th Experts' Groups meeting on political
issues was held in Castelo Branco, Portugal (following similar meetings in
Vienna in 2000 and Bucharest in 2001), hosted by the Portuguese OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, in a positive and constructive atmosphere. This in
itself is noteworthy, in light of the tension on the ground in
September-October 2002. All sides acknowledged the role of the previous
experts meetings and in particular that the so-called Intermediary
Document on the basic principles of political and legal relations between
the sides in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict will constitute the basis for
the negotiations, thus ensuring the continuity in the peace settlement
process.

OSCE in 2003 has continued to work towards peaceful settlement of the
Georgian-Ossetian conflict, through facilitation of the JCC meetings and
its subsidiary bodies. At the present juncture, the Mission is stepping up
its activities aimed at facilitating the two sides to implement the OSCE
Mission's proposals, which have also a strong confidence building effect,
on the release of a JCC newsletter and the enhancement of the operational
efficiency of the Special Co-ordination Centre, that is joint policing
activities. OSCE is also exploring the possibilities to enhance its
efforts in the field confidence building with a view of contributing to an
atmosphere of trust and positive examples of co-operation. This, in turn,
could be instrumental in bridging the gap between the two sides and
facilitating JCC activities.

SECURITY

The security situation, from a military point of view, remains in general
calm and quiet. OSCE continued its monitoring of the JPKF in the
Georgian-Ossetian zone of conflict, with an emphasis on transparency of
their activities and co-operation among the sides. The JPFK monitors the
ceasefire and also maintains a rapid reaction force, which has proved
itself capable of responding quickly to threats to the peace and defusing
tense situations in the past. Occasionally, however, there have been some
indications that the JPKF has been under some strain due to an unclear
chain of command and other signs of lack of cooperation and competence
within the JPKF. Such developments may have serious adverse impact on the
stability in the region.

The Georgian and South Ossetian sides have over recent years achieved
substantial agreements on joint action against criminality. A Joint Law
Enforcement Coordination Body was formed in February 2000 with the JPKF,
with participation of South Ossetian and local Georgian law enforcement
authorities. In February 2002, the EU donated communication equipment and
vehicles to the Joint Georgian-South Ossetian law enforcement unit, the
"Special Coordination Centre" (SCC), which is subordinated to the JCC. To
address some of the shortcomings of the SCC, OSCE has urged the two sides
to agree on concrete measures to improve the efficiency of the SCC for
addressing the growing criminality in the region.

Criminality remains an acute problem in South Ossetia, in part due to
attempts to control the lucrative trade in "transit" goods shipped between
the Russian Federation and Georgia proper via South Ossetia. Robberies are
common in the region, especially car thefts. Casualties are often
suspected to be victims of "business" disputes. Law enforcement officers
from both sides are suspected to be at times involved in criminal
activities. Furthermore, there have been cases of a kidnapping and
assaults on officers in the zone of conflict. These incidents and
unproductive investigations have provoked dissatisfaction among the local
population. It has also become common that frustrated villagers block the
major road for hours in protest. There have been constant concerns among
the international community that the present trend of rampant crime and
series of incidents could incite ethnic tension and violence. The "Falloy"
market disputes are often of high importance in security matters. This is
often combined with "legal actions", for instance, recently introduced
"escort" fees by the South Ossetian de facto authorities and "Customs"
fees by the Georgian authorities have caused further dissatisfaction among
the population.

Although the security situation in general has been calm throughout 2002
and 2003, it has significantly deteriorated in mid-summer 2002, along with
heightened tensions between Russian Federation and Georgia, which
culminated in the Russian President's ultimatum to Georgia to take action
against "terrorists" or face Russian unilateral action. This was
compounded with fear felt by the local authorities and population over
hostile intentions by the Chechen boyevics who were allegedly seen in the
vicinity of South Ossetian eastern "border," and the possibility of a
Georgian "anti-criminal" operation in the area. Although no major
incidents related to those issues was recorded, these events resulted in
some genuine concerns by the population for their safety as well as in
partial mobilisation of South Ossetian military reserves called upon by
local authorities. By late October 2002, the tension about Chechens was
somewhat defused, and the South Ossetian de facto authorities were then
more concerned over the "anti-criminal" operation in South Ossetia
(officially, Georgian authorities place this operation in "Shida Kartli").
The mobilisation of troops in South Ossetia was retained for some time
mainly due to the fear of Georgians using this operation as a pretext to
take South Ossetia by force. By year's end, the tensions over the above
issues have abated, in parallel with positive developments in adjacent
areas, which normally reflect on the situation in the zone of conflict.

>From its start in 2000, the OSCE has supported the Joint Peacekeeping
Forces' (JPKF) programme of voluntary hand-over of small arms and
ammunition. The OSCE Mission to Georgia has given its support to the
weapons collection programme by providing funding for projects that are
directly related to the voluntary hand in of weapons. The types of
projects implemented vary but they are generally directed at improving
infrastructure and essential services in the region. The JPKF, in
cooperation with the local authorities, has continued the campaign on the
voluntary handover of illegally kept weapons. So far hundreds of small
arms as well as munitions, grenades, landmines, and one 100mm gun have
been collected. The OSCE is considering further plans to implement
projects for the benefit of communities from the zone of conflict. In
recent months, the OSCE has supervised several projects including the
delivery of computers to a school in Tskhinvali; the repair of sections of
two irrigation canals providing water for both Georgian and Ossetian
villages; rehabilitation of a section of a road in the south-eastern part
of the zone of conflict: this road will ease Ossetian villagers' access to
the Georgian administrative centre in Gori. There are also plans for a bus
route for this purpose.

OVERVIEW OF HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND RESPONSES

During the time of the Soviet Union, the region was a relatively
prosperous one. Its mines, factories, and farms supplied raw materials to
markets across the Soviet Union, and the mountainous regions of Java were
dotted with resorts and tourist bases. Since 1989, however, the collapse
of the Soviet Union, compounded with effects of the ensuing civil war and
the powerful earthquake that hit the region, all contributed to a grim
economic climate. Poverty has become widespread across the region and is
growing.

The humanitarian situation in South Ossetia cannot be described as
critical, but remains precarious and certainly requires more attention by
international community. The Georgian-South Ossetian peace-process is
practically in a deadlock, and the conflict in South Ossetia is at times
described as a forgotten one. International aid has markedly decreased in
recent years, while the humanitarian situation has actually slightly
deteriorated, and some basic rehabilitation needs have grown. Local
authorities have no external support to their budget for social security
programmes and objectively cannot provide more than a minimal and
irregular assistance to their own needy population. There is a
widely-perceived need for continuing, and possibly increasing humanitarian
aid, especially in the medical sector, as well as basic infrastructure
rehabilitation in the fields of electricity, water, sanitation, etc.

There has been, for quite some time, a consensus amongst international
humanitarian actors on the ground that properly designed transitional
assistance programmes could spur confidence building, support and
encourage return of IDPs/refugees, and promote rapprochement at the
political level. It is, therefore, essential, to further raise awareness
amongst donors to encourage appropriate assistance to the region.
Throughout 2002 and 2003, the trend has, however, been quite the opposite.
The deadlock in political negotiations, overall donor fatigue in a wider,
regional frame, as well as some misunderstandings between the local
authorities and international NGOs, have resulted in complete closure of
most international NGOs and a prolonged delay in implementation of planned
projects by others. While OSCE supports a range of activities in South
Ossetia, and UNHCR and WFP maintain their low-level presence, it is
noteworthy to point out that there is only international NGO, i.e. ADRA,
currently operational in the area and dealing with health matters relevant
to humanitarian situation.

A large majority of South Ossetia's population lives on extremely low
salaries or pensions. Some are involved in petty trade or the "transit"
goods trade. Some have obtained the right of Russian pensions, which are
considerably higher than the South Ossetian ones. Many working age people
are economic migrants and increasingly emigrants to Russia, who then
provide remittances that support their relatives. The majority of the
population, however, survives on subsistence agriculture. Due to the
gloomy overall socio-economic situation, unprecedented level of crime and
related manifestations, such as increased drug addiction and suicide
rates, have become a huge concern to all. Furthermore, South Ossetia faces
demographic erosion as ever larger number of working-age people migrate,
or rather emigrate, primarily to the Russian Federation, in search of
better employment and income opportunities. Lack of income and employment
opportunities is the central issue in addressing the dismal socio-economic
situation in the region.

In the absence of adequate programmes to stimulate the economy, the local
population, especially the most vulnerable groups, such as single elderly
without family support, will remain dependent on humanitarian assistance,
for which funding has been low and decreasing. It should be highlighted
that the current situation is not conducive to potential returnees. The
lack of potential for improvement in the immediate future is a crucial
factor in the low number of returnees into South Ossetia, even for the
Ossetian ethnic group. Due to the low level of return, UNHCR and its
implementing partners have scaled down their presence in the region.

On February 11, OCHA convened a conference in Tbilisi on 2003 Humanitarian
Situation and Strategy in Georgia to the Government and international
assistance community. OCHA presented the Strategy document, which is meant
to assist donor agencies and other international agencies in their
strategic planning, fundraising, advocacy and other efforts on behalf of
the population in need in the country. Among four prioritised areas, there
was a panel group dealing specifically with the conflict zones, i.e.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The prioritised panel group concluded that
there is no humanitarian emergency in South Ossetia at present, as
compared to the situation in early years following the armed conflict in
early 1990s. However, the current level of humanitarian aid in South
Ossetia is considered inadequate for the well-being of the most vulnerable
segments of the population. The panel group's recommendations for South
Ossetia (as for Abkhazia) were the following: review the humanitarian
situation and address the existing gaps, especially in health sector;
support, to a much larger extent, rehabilitation of basic infrastructure
and private dwellings; increase income and employment generating
activities; consider labour-bases infrastructure and community
mobilisation projects; encourage support to psycho-socially oriented
projects; provide further support to civil society and local NGO
development. Upon the Conference, there has been very little of a
noticeable higher interest by the international community in considering
support to various programmes in South Ossetia.

PROGRAMMES BY SECTORS

Food Security and Agriculture

There is no immediate danger of hunger and related diseases among the
general population in South Ossetia. Nevertheless, the most vulnerable
segments, such as the elderly, orphans, and families with many children,
face serious food security problems due to their level of poverty. The
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) provides food aid to
beneficiaries residing in institutions, such as children in orphanages, as
well as food aid for a soup kitchen for the most vulnerable persons such
as disabled persons and single elderly dependent on institutional feeding.
DFID supported a project in the village Prisi with a mixed
Georgian-Ossetian population. The project aimed at income generation and
improved food security for the village households through technical
assistance and agricultural inputs supply for tomato and cabbage
production and sale in Tskhinvali market.

Health

The Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) extended the primary health
care initiative programme, which first started in November 2000, until
August 2004. In the period June 2002 - April 2003, ADRA continued the
programme trying to address the needs found in the last baseline study
conducted by end-2002, which indicated that the incidence of chronic
thyroid diseases such as goiter is endemic, the sanitary situation is very
unsatisfactory, and that there is a high level of ignorance amongst the
local population concerning Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs),
particularly HIV/AIDS. Other activities during the period were the
delivery of First Aid medicine and equipment to Tshkinvali nursing home,
Tshkinvali state prison and to 24 medical points located in the villages
of the PHCISO project. ADRA also participated in the celebration of World
Health Day in a week of health talks and activities for the population of
South Ossetia entitled "Growing Together". Other activities include IMCI
Training for health care providers, Healthy Life Style discussions in
Tshkinvali State University, publishing health related topics in the local
newspaper, a monthly newsletter with health updates for the general
population, round table discussions for Health Care Providers with updated
information, basic English language and computer classes for Health Care
Providers, free access to library and internet for Health Care providers,
radio and television programmes, formation of village councils and
volunteer groups to empower the community so that they can begin to
address their health problems, formation of mothers' group and other
activities relevant to the project.

UNHCR provided shelter assistance for establishment of a medical point in
the biggest collective centre in Tskhinvali (Turbaza) which will provide
medical assistance to IDPs and returnees in the area. UNHCR is also
supporting a doctor and 2 nurses in this collective centre will allowance
while ADRA will provide medical equipment and medicines.

Heating

People in the region suffer from particularly harsh winters while gas and
electricity supplies are irregular and insufficient to provide adequate
heating. Thus, a large portion of the population relies on firewood and
wood stoves, which has already caused large-scale deforestation.
Furthermore, local authorities are unable to distribute sufficient
quantities of firewood to address the needs of vulnerable segments of the
population, such as the single elderly and those residing in collective
centres. Those most at risk reside in urban areas and are unable to pay
utility bills, purchase firewood on the market, or even to simply
(illegally/free) cut woods. Firewood supply is considered to be a seasonal
humanitarian priority for some segments of the population. Upon an appeal
for supporting a firewood distribution project launched jointly by ADRA
and OCHA to the international community in Autumn 2003, the Swiss Agency
for Development and Cooperation (SDC) provided funding to ADRA to carry
out the firewood and stove distribution project for South Ossetia. The
project was implemented in January 2003 during one of the worst winters in
the region in the last 10 years. This project helped 250 families with
firewood and 40 with stoves. The beneficiaries of the project were IDP's
and others among the most vulnerable people. Taking into consideration the
cold winter season, UNHCR delivered 33 wood - burning stoves to those
ex-refugee and ex-IDP families who returned in the year 2002. In addition,
20 stoves have been provided to evicted IDPs in Doghlauri. After a special
request made by the local authorities in South Ossetia, UNHCR distributed
firewood among 125 most vulnerable IDP and returnee families in South
Ossetia. Each family received 2 cubic meters of firewood. Firewood needs
will be acute also in coming 2002/2003 winter, for which international
support has not yet been secured.

Human Rights and Confidence Building

OSCE has conducted regular human rights monitoring in the region. As a
confidence building measure, OSCE facilitated activities designed to
empower and build confidence among local media professionals (with the
particular emphasis on female journalists) and their counterparts from
Abkhaz, Georgian, and other south Caucasian media outlets and NGOs.
Project activities included financing the publication of the South
Ossetian women's journal "Amaga," engaging media workers in the
Association of South Caucasian Journalists, as well as organising training
workshops on topics such as role of journalists in post-conflict
confidence-building, media as a business, writing about women's issues for
the network of female journalists.

In collaboration with UNHCR, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) produces
and distributes copies of the interactive children's magazine "White
Crane", distributed to children in schools and orphanages in Tskhinvali,
Java, and Kurta on monthly basis. In October 2002, a local NGO
"Journalists for Human Rights" conducted a training in human rights,
society democratisation, and the role of United Nations for
school-teachers, supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Georgia.

Civil Society Development and Peace-building

Within the framework of its regional project, "Women for Conflict
Prevention and Peace-Building in the Southern Caucasus," the United
Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) supports the capabilities of
women to participate in the conflict resolution and peace-building
process, and maintains that women have a strong commitment to the
maintenance of a long-term peace in the Southern Caucasus. In support of
the project objectives and in support of the UN SC Resolution 1325, six
meetings were held in Tshkinvali and Tbilisi between Georgian and South
Ossetian women within the framework of public diplomacy activities. These
meetings provide a venue for women to strengthen their capacity to
participate in decisions which affect their lives, present and future, at
local, national and international levels. The workshops are conducted
through NGO partners with the participants among NGO representatives,
women's activists, mid-level officials and other interested individuals.  
These workshops are a part of a larger, regional programme, which builds
the skills and confidence of women to be active participants in the
conflict resolution and peace-processes. The need remains for further
support in the areas of conflict resolution and peace-building.

In 2003, DFID has supported the founding of the NGO Resource Centre in
Tshkinvali, to be implemented through a local NGO, "Association of South
Ossetian Women for Democracy and Human Rights". The Centre will serve as a
venue for the press-club, meetings of the third sector, publishing
informational bulletin, creation of South Ossetian NGO directory,
specialised library etc.

Education and Children

In the frame of the ICRC education programme based on the Russian
literature, a refresher course was carried out for secondary school
teachers of Tshkinvali in October 2002. UNHCR has also funded, jointly
with OSCE and UNICEF, the summer camp project for 20 children from the
conflict zone including IDP and returnee children. As per the request of
the South Ossetian side, UNHCR is also exploring the availability of funds
to assist in rehabilitation of one Georgian and one Ossetian schools in
the conflict zone. In February 2003, UNHCR provided the local authorities
with doors and indows for rehabilitation of schools in South Ossetia and
construction materials for repairs of the gym of Tskhinvali University in
Gori.

Income Generation

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the International Rescue Committee
(IRC) had been implementing micro-lending programs in Gori and Tskhinvali.
However, IRC closed its Gori office in January 2002 and Tskhinvali office
in April 2002, while NRC closed its Tskhinvali office in July 2002. At
present, no international organisation provides support to
income-generating activities although there is a need for such programmes
to be designed, to promote the development of a small business sector and
spur job creation.

Psycho-social Rehabilitation

Among many priorities in South Ossetia, local NGOs and local authorities
have reiterated the lack of psycho-social rehabilitation programmes
designed to address trauma and psychological problems resulting from the
war and subsequent socio-economic problems. Also, there are very few
programmes addressing the special needs of vulnerable children, many of
whom are orphans living in collective centres.

Rehabilitation and Shelter

In 2002, UNHCR Georgia continued to support the conflict resolution
process for the returnee caseload from the Georgian - Ossetian conflict of
1989 - 1992, under the aegis of the OSCE. Being an observer to the Joint
Control Commission (JCC), UNHCR advocated for the right of the displaced
to return to their home in both secure and dignified conditions. In 2002,
UNHCR continued to facilitate voluntary repatriation of refugees from
North Ossetia, Russian Federation, to the places of their former residence
in South Ossetia and Georgia Proper. Three Voluntary Repatriation convoys
were organized and a total of 18 families (65 individuals) returned to the
places of their former residence and were assisted by UNHCR with standard
block houses or shelter rehabilitation kits (roof repair kits, room repair
kits, doors & windows). 17 families returned to South Ossetia and 1 family
returned to Georgia Proper. UNHCR in the zone of the Georgian - Ossetian
conflict was also assisting the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who
choose to return to the places of their former residence. UNHCR
implementing partner and counterparts in South Ossetia and Georgia Proper
continued to register IDP families who wish to return. In 2002, the office
assisted 32 IDP families (123 individuals) in South Ossetia with shelter
in terms of standard block houses, roof repair kits, room repair kits,
doors & windows. As such, in 2002, a total of 50 families (188
individuals) including both refugees and IDPs who have expressed their
wish to return to their places of former permanent residence were assisted
with shelter by UNHCR in South Ossetia and Areas of Return in Georgia
Proper. In order to strengthen the JCC mechanism, through which the South
Ossetian and Georgian parties meet together with the Russian Federation,
the OSCE and European Union, UNHCR decided to assist the newly created JCC
Secretariat in Tskhinvali with roofing materials.

On 5 June 2003, the first voluntary repatriation convoy this year was
organized by UNHCR and 6 refugee families (21 individuals) returned to the
places of their former residence in South Ossetia. These returnee families
have been assisted by UNHCR with standard block houses or shelter
rehabilitation kits (roof repair kits, room repair kits, doors & windows).
5 refugee families (13 individuals) registered for return at UNHCR office
in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia in 2002 and 2003 have decided to return to
the places of their former permanent residence spontaneously and have been
assisted with shelter by UNHCR Georgia. On 31 July 2003, the second
voluntary repatriation convoy was organized by UNHCR and 8 refugee
families (24 individuals) returned to the places of their former residence
in South Ossetia. These returnee families have been assisted by UNHCR with
standard block houses or shelter rehabilitation kits (roof repair kits,
room repair kits, doors & windows). As such, UNHCR Georgia has already
assisted in 2003 19 ex-refugee families (58 individuals) in return and
rehabilitation of their conflict-damaged dwellings and will further assist
18 refugee families (47 individuals) upon their return to the places of
former permanent residence in South Ossetia with UNHCR organized VolRep
convoy. In 2003, UNHCR BO Tbilisi and its implementing partner in South
Ossetia continued the assessment of 154 newly registered applications for
return of IDPs to and within South Ossetia. 101 places of former residence
of IDPs requesting assistance in return and rehabilitation of their
dwellings have been visited in order to identify the level of house
destruction, conditions for return, eligibility for shelter assessment,
etc. and reported their findings and recommendations to the BO Tbilisi
Programme Unit for action. This exercise will be an on-going process as
UNHCR's implementing partners and counterparts continue to register IDPs
willing to return to the places of their former permanent residence. 13
IDP families have been already assisted by UNHCR during the reporting
period with roof kit, room kit, doors/windows and standard block houses
(10 Ossetian families - 3 Georgian). Further 60 IDP families have been
found eligible for roof kit, room kit doors & windows option (29 Ossetian
families - 31 Georgian), 50 IDP families are eligible for standard block
houses (27 Ossetian families - 23 Georgian), 182 families were not found
eligible for any UNHCR shelter assistance (127 Ossetian families - 55
Georgian) and 53 families (22 Ossetian families - 30 Georgian) are pending
assessment. 31 IDP families have been already assisted by UNHCR in 2003
with roof kit, room kit, doors/windows and standard block houses (20
Ossetian families - 11 Georgian). Further 54 IDP families have been found
eligible for roof kit, room kit doors & windows option (28 Ossetian
families - 26 Georgian), 56 IDP families are eligible for standard block
houses (38 Ossetian families - 18 Georgian), 102 families are not found
eligible for any UNHCR shelter assistance (65 Ossetian families - 37
Georgian), 54 families have been assisted earlier (in 2002 or earlier/ 41
Ossetian - 13 Georgian). 10 families have their dwellings occupied (5
georgia/4 Ossetian/1 Armenian) and 93 families (67 Ossetian families - 26
Georgian) are pending assessment. Total of 400 applications were received
from IDP families in 2002 and 2003. In order to meet the local standards
and requests from beneficiaries and the local authorities, the size of
UNHCR standard block house to be constructed in the year 2003 will be
bigger than in the previous years (6 x 7.4 m instead of 6 x 6.4 m). In
co-ordination with SO Vladikavkaz, UNHCR continues to discuss the ways to
launch an information campaign targeting refugees in North Ossetia in
order to make them more aware of the situation in the area of potential
return in South Ossetia and Georgia Proper. UNHCR will also hire a local
Consultant on legal issues to assist returnees with solution of their
property restitution issues. UNHCR will continue to assist repatriation
and continue to provide shelter for refugees and IDPs willing to return to
the places of their former permanent residence in 2004.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) provided financial
support for urgent repair work for schools in the villages of Khelcho and
Teregvan. Secours Populaire Francaise (SPF), in collaboration with the
local NGO ADA, completed the rehabilitation of the drinking water supply
system in September 2002 in Khokhat-Sarabukh village in which some 120
returnee families reside. The rehabilitation improved living conditions
and was expected to support the return process.

Infrastructure Rehabilitation

In 1997, the EC granted ECU 3.5 million for rehabilitation in the conflict
zone. The EC established a "Coordination Board" between the sides, who
agreed to focus on infrastructure of vital interest to the population
(schools, farming cooperatives), with special emphasis on those that
bridged the Georgian (+/-30.000 in 1989) and Ossetian (+/-60.000 in 1989)
communities (drinking water, irrigation and electricity networks). The
Austrian NGO Hilfswerk implemented these projects. Under a second tranche
of Euro 1.5 million, the EC proposed the reactivation of economic links
between South-Ossetia and Georgia proper. The projects targeted the key
sectors of transport (railway link Gori/Tskhinvali, railway station in
Tskhinvali) and energy (electricity supply from Inguri, gas network in
Tskhinvali, metering): these projects were implemented by Hilfswerk and
have all been completed except for the railway link Gori/Tskhinvali, which
is expected to be fully implemented by July-August 2003. Limited progress
has been made in the negotiations over the EC's proposal, referring to a
new grant of Euro 2.5 million contingent upon the approval and fulfilment
of conditionalities. The EC proposal refers to the rehabilitation of the
main south-north road axis in exchange for the establishment of a joint
Georgian/South-Ossetian customs in the conflict zone. DFID supported the
OSCE project rehabilitation of the Kekhvi-Vanati irrigation channel in
exchange of small arms.

Matrix of humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance programmes in South
Ossetia in 2002-2003 (pdf* format - 127 KB)

Compiled by OCHA Georgia. In collaboration with donors, UN agencies,
international and non-governmental organizations.

Comments and suggestions are most welcome.

For more information contact Srdjan Stojanovic, Head of Office, OCHA
Georgia, UN House, 9 Eristavi Street, Tbilisi. Tel: (99532) 943163 or
tel./fax: (99532) 959516, e-mail: srdjan.stojanovic@unocha.org.ge


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