OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Georgia
18 August 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

The following information is based on reports from the UN Country Team and 
humanitarian partners in Tbilisi and North Ossetia, as well as information 
received from countries involved in the response. 1.0 General Humanitarian 
Overview

1.1 As of 18 August, a number of locations in Georgia including the town 
of Gori are newly accessible, for the first time since the start of the 
recent conflict. Following the opening of a humanitarian corridor allowing 
east ? west access, the distribution of humanitarian relief is expanding 
beyond Gori and as far west as Poti.

1.2 The Georgia Crisis Flash Appeal was released in New York on 18 August, 
and will be launched in Tbilisi on 19 August at 11:00 local time. The 
Flash Appeal is requesting approximately $58.5 million for six months of 
humanitarian assistance to those affected by the crisis.

1.3 Based on the number of people registered by the Georgian authorities, 
approximately 128,700 people have been displaced in Georgia during the 
recent conflict. This figure does not include the estimated 30,000 people 
believed to have sought refuge in North Ossetia, Russian Federation.

2.0 Humanitarian Response

North Ossetia

2.1 The Russian Federal Migration Service has registered a total of 22,763 
displaced persons from South Ossetia in North Ossetia. 5,119 of these 
(including 2,299 children) are currently accommodated in 57 temporary 
shelter facilities in the South Federal District, and are receiving food, 
sanitary facilities, basis medical care, free telephone communication, and 
psychological counselling. The Russian Federation's Ministry of Emergency 
Situations (EMERCOM) reports that 997.37 MTs of relief items have been 
delivered to North Ossetia, including 525.25 MTs of food, potable water, 
30.14 MTs of medicines, 22 MTs of medical equipment, 11.7 MTs of hygiene 
kits, 58 generators, 189.6 MTs of construction material, 125mks of power 
cables, 26 water purification units, and 750 beds. In order to transport 
relief items from Vladikavkaz to Tskhinvali, EMERCOM has established an 
air bridge (with Mi-26 and MI-8 helicopters) as well as truck convoys. 4 
water tanks (capacity 5,000 litres each) are being delivered to the region 
by railroad. 489 injured people from South Ossetia are being treated at 
hospitals in North Ossetia.

2.2 UN agencies operational in the region (UNHCR, UNICEF, and WFP) as well 
as ICRC, and various NGOs (DRC, IRC, IMC, MSF-France, MSF-Holland, and 
ACF) are meeting regularly in Vladikavkaz to share information on new 
arrivals and needs identified. Assistance has been offered to Russian 
Federation authorities in the response operation in North Ossetia, 
including for the registration of those displaced and the provision of 
non-food items.

2.3 Kazakhstan airlifted 9 MTs of relief items to Vladikavkaz on August 
15th. Belarus dispatched 63 MTs of relief items by truck convoy to 
Vladikavkaz on August 17th.

South Ossetia

2.4 EMERCOM reports that it has so far delivered a total of 609 MTs of 
humanitarian assistance to South Ossetia. This includes 362 MTs of food, 
potable water, 5 MTs of medicines, 36 power generators, 12.5 MTs of fuel, 
35.1 MTs of construction materials, 10 MTs of disinfection material, 44 
MTs of construction glass, 15 m3 of wood, 21 water purification units, 67 
tents, and 850 beds. The Russian Federation has also sent two airmobile 
hospitals to Tskhinvali, to provide medical assistance and conduct surgery 
as required. Three food, water, and medicine distribution points for the 
affected population have been established and water purification units 
installed. In collaboration with Bank 'Sherbank', and with technical 
support from EMERCOM, the Russian Federation Ministry of Finance has 
organised two mobile bank points to facilitate the distribution of 
financial support to the affected population.

2.5 Russian Federation Urban Search and Rescue teams are conducting 
operations in collapsed buildings, extracting and identifying bodies, 
while resilience tests are being conducted on damaged buildings and 
facilities. A recovery assessment mission has been deployed to Tskhinvali, 
and is focussing on repairs to the city's water and gas pipelines, 
electricity networks, schools, and hospitals. The sewage system in the 
city has been fully repaired, and demining teams have begun clearing UXOs, 
with 51 disposed of so far. A temporary shelter facility (tented camp) for 
500 people has been established in the city, and a bakery with a capacity 
to produce 7.5 MTs of bread daily has been restored and is functioning.

2.6 Due to lack of access, UN agencies, international organizations and 
NGOs have not been able to resume operations in South Ossetia following 
the recent hostilities.
Attachments:
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