OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Georgia
20 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 Humanitarian partners continue to have access to Gori and to villages 
in Kaspi district and Senaki. On 20 August, an inter-agency fact finding 
mission including experts from various coordination groups was conducted 
to Gori. The initial findings are expected to be shared shortly.

1.2 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on 20 
August that it had obtained permission to send humanitarian personnel from 
Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia to Tskhinvali in South Ossetia to assess the 
need for humanitarian aid arising from the recent armed conflict. The ICRC 
president, Jakob Kellenberger, who has just returned from a three-day 
visit to Georgia and the Russian Federation, said: "Obtaining access for 
the ICRC to South Ossetia was one of the main objectives of my visit. We 
have indications that there are important needs in the region that still 
have to be addressed."

1.3 The Russian Federation's Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) 
reports that since 12 August, 14,297 people have returned to South Ossetia 
from displacement locations in the Russian Federation, as the situation 
has stabilized. 5,148 displaced persons remain accommodated in 58 
temporary shelter facilities in the south Federal District, including 
2,207 children, and are being provided with food, sanitary facilities, 
basic medical aid, and psychological counseling. EMERCOM reports that an 
additional 12,995 people displaced from South Ossetia are staying with 
relatives in North Ossetia. A total of 3994.46 MTs of relief items have 
been delivered to North Ossetia, including 1871.55 MTs of food, potable 
water, 42.58 MTs of medicines, 29.6 MTs of medical equipment, 11.3 MTs of 
hygiene kits, 58 generators, 1365.03 MTs of construction material, 26 
water purification units, 604 large tents, and 850 beds.

1.4 UN agencies operational in North Ossetia (UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO, and WFP) 
as well as ICRC, SDC, and various NGOs (DRC, IRC, WVI, MSF-France, and 
MSF-Holland) are meeting three times a week in Vladikavkaz to share 
information. 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 nonfood items, and it is confirmed 
that the critical needs of those displaced are being met.

1.5 EMERCOM reports that it has so far delivered a total of 1702.27 MTs of 
humanitarian assistance to South Ossetia. This includes 588.3 MTs of food, 
potable water, 8.01 MTs of medicines, 6 MTs of baby food, 29.6 MTs of 
medical equipment, 668.7 MTs of construction materials, 236 large tents, 
850 beds, 40 generators, 21 water purification units, 1 mobile gas 
station, and 40 gas cylinders. An additional 267.98 MTs of relief items 
(food, medicines, and construction materials) are currently on the way to 
the region in 6 truck convoys.

1.6 The Russian Federation has also sent two airmobile hospitals to 
Tskhinvali, to provide medical assistance and conduct surgery as required. 
In total, 557 persons have received medical treatment and 77 surgeries 
have been performed. Three food, water, and medicine distribution points 
for the affected population have been established and water purification 
units installed. Russian Federation Urban Search and Rescue teams are 
conducting operations in collapsed buildings, extracting and identifying 
bodies, while resilience tests have been conducted on 901 damaged 
buildings and facilities. A recovery assessment mission has also been 
deployed to Tskhinvali, and is focusing 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 de-mining teams have begun 
clearing UXOs, with 738 disposed of so far. A temporary shelter facility 
(tented camp) for 500 people has been established in the city.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=79FEE1E40FEF2F40492574AC00063742&file=Full_Report.pdf


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