OCHA Situation Report No. 6
Georgia
23 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. 1.0General Humanitarian 
Overview

1.1 Humanitarian partners continue to have access to Gori as well as 
locations in western and eastern Georgia. However, as of 22 August there 
is no humanitarian access to South Ossetia from the south.

1.2 On 20 August, an ICRC assessment mission (including experts in health, 
water & sanitation, and protection) was allowed to access South Ossetia 
from Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, for the first time. On 21 August, the 
team visited the hospital in Tskhinvali to evaluate the needs of the 
medical facility and the patients. The team also met with relevant 
officials to discuss protection-related issues.

1.3 A mission to Kutaisi in central Georgia found that there are 3,500 
IDPs in the area, including 1,500 people living in collective centers. 
However, the centers in and around Kutaisi were found to lack basic 
sanitation facilities. Most of the IDPs in Kutaisi are from Kodori valley, 
with some IDPs also coming from Gori.

1.4 The port of Batumi has established a humanitarian coordination centre, 
which is operated by the local authorities and NGOs. Until now the centre 
has focused on providing humanitarian assistance to the estimated 15,000 
IDPs, including roughly 4,500 children, in the surrounding area.

1.5 The Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation has registered 
37,232 displaced persons who have crossed the border.

1.6 The Russian Federation's Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) 
reports that since 12 August, 17,912 people have returned to South Ossetia 
from displacement locations in the Russian Federation, as the situation 
has stabilised. EMERCOM also reports that 4,252 displaced persons remain 
accommodated in 58 temporary shelter facilities in the south Federal 
District, including 1,925 children. The remainder of those displaced 
(12,995) to North Ossetia are staying with relatives. A total of 5,166.3 
MTs of relief items have been delivered by EMERCOM in North Ossetia, 
including 2046.12 MTs of food, potable water, 53.6 MTs of medicines, 29.6 
MTs of medical equipment, 11.3 MTs of hygiene kits, 58 generators, 2155.98 
MTs of construction material, 26 water purification units, 748 large 
tents, and 850 beds.

1.7 UNHCR airlifted a total of 30.4 MTs of relief items (jerry cans, 
blankets, kitchen sets, mattresses) to Vladikavkaz on 19-20 August. Other 
in-kind contributions to the humanitarian response operation in North 
Ossetia include 9 MTs of relief items from Kazakhstan, 63 MTs of NFIs from 
Belarus, 31 MTs of relief items from Uzbekistan, and clothing and 
psychological support for children funded by SDC.

1.8 EMERCOM reports that it has so far delivered a total of 2,321 MTs of 
humanitarian assistance to Tskhinvali in South Ossetia. This includes 
856.3 MTs of food, potable water, 19.6 MTs of medicines, 6 MTs of baby 
food, 29.6 MTs of medical equipment, 835.1 MTs of construction materials, 
101.1 MTs of disinfection and washing materials, 260 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 are 
currently on the way to the region in 6 truck convoys.

Attachments: 
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=1684DC70C54B7D1E492574AE0002F4C2&file=Full_Report.pdf


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