UNITED NATIONS Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

UNITED NATIONS

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Situation Report No. 8 on the Situation in Georgia 27 August 2008

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 as well as locations in western and eastern Georgia. However, as of 27 August there is no humanitarian access to South Ossetia from the south. ICRC remains the only international humanitarian actor that is operational in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia.

1.2 Spontaneous and organized returns continue to take place, and an estimated 21,000 IDPs have returned since 23 August, mostly to Gori. Meanwhile, new displacements have been reported from villages north of Gori, near South Ossetia.

1.3 The Government of Georgia (GoG) is facilitating the return of IDPs from Tbilisi to Gori and surrounding areas, including the identification of temporary accommodation for those without shelter in Gori. Additionally, with the support of UNHCR, a small tented camp was set up on the edge of Gori that can hold up to 400 of those newly displaced on 26 August.

1.4 Authorities in Ajara and Imereti regions along with the Georgian Ministry of Refugee and Accommodation (MRA) and humanitarian partners have been identifying the immediate needs of the returning populations. Access to free health care has been facilitated for IDPs by the GoG, and the Georgia National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is monitoring for outbreaks of communicable diseases in the collective centers in Tbilisi.

1.5 According to the most recent report from the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), the current status of the estimated 35,300 people who crossed the border into North Ossetia following the recent conflict is as follows: 23,609 people have returned to South Ossetia; 8,707 are in the North Caucasus staying with relatives; and 2,950 people are living in 41 temporary shelters.

1.6 On 25 August, the Southern Federal District authorities began the return of South Ossetians to Tskhinvali. EMERCOM’s branch in North Ossetia has reported that people housed in temporary accommodation centers will return to South Ossetia by 1 September.

2.0 Coordination and Humanitarian Response in Georgia – Sectoral Updates

Given the rapidly changing situation on the ground, the Coordination Groups in Georgia are enhancing their operational capacity in Gori and are discussing possible displacement assumptions to facilitate planning. Draft planning assumptions include: • Immediate return of IDPs in Gori and surrounding villages where control has been handed back to Georgian authorities (Timeline: next 30 days, Locations: Gori, Kaspi, Khashuri and Samegrelo); • Later return of IDPs whose villages affected still not under control by Georgian authorities (Timeline: March – June 2009; Locations: Kareli and villages bordering S. Ossetian border, Gori, Kaspi and Khashuri); and • Longer–term return of IDPs recently displaced from S. Ossetia which is difficult to ascertain and dependent on relations between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali (Timeline: n/a, Location: S. Ossetia, Kareli and Upper Khodori (Abkhazia)).

An information management working group was established today, bringing together information management focal points from the Coordination Groups, to look at inter/intra-sectoral information management, including supporting the development and implementation of an initial rapid assessment of the conflict affected areas.

1 2.1 FOOD

Lead Agency: WFP Participants: ACF/ACH, CARE, SCF, WVI, MercyCorps, NRC, Premiere Urgence, Caritas, CHF.

Humanitarian Response & Achievements • As of today, WFP food assistance has reached 137,100 people. Today, food was provided to 12,600 IDPs and people living in conflict affected areas. Deliveries included complementary rations from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in eight districts in Kakheti. WFP dry food reached also three districts of Samtskhe Javakheti for the first time.

Gaps & Planning • Following discussions with the Ministry of Finance, it has been agreed to resume distribution of basic and complementary commodities to the remaining IDPs in Tbilisi. This follows an earlier request by the Government to suspend distribution of these commodities, to allow for the provision of US Government- provided humanitarian rations. • Complimentary food rations will be distributed in Tbilisi by World Vision, Save the Children and Care, during an initial 10-day period.

2.2 LOGISTICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Lead Agency: WFP/UNHCR Participants: ACH/ACF, DRC, SDC, WVI

Humanitarian Response & Achievements • The port of Batumi is fully operational for commercial cargo. • The main road between Poti and Tbilisi is open and there are no checkpoints along the road. • The railroad has been repaired and, according to railway officials, is open for commercial transport. • The Logistics Working Group has established inter-agency warehouses in Tbilisi and Gori. The WFP warehouse in Poti also has some spare capacity to accommodate inter-agency cargo. Storage in inter-agency warehouses is provided free of charge to participating agencies for a period of 3 months.

2.3 SHELTER AND NON FOOD ITEMS

Lead Agency: UNHCR Participants: CARE, Counterpart, DRC, IRD, NRC, Oxfam GB, SDC, IOM, SCF, WVI, CHF

Humanitarian Response & Achievements • UNHCR together with UNICEF, WFP, IRC and the Italian Red Cross are currently ensuring that the basic standards for tented camps are observed with regard to water/sanitation, food, non-food items and tents for those IDPs without shelter in Gori.

Gaps & Planning • The GoG is being advised that the tented camp in Gori should only be a temporary solution to alleviate the current situation. More viable accommodation is needed in view of the approaching winter.

Agency/Region Beneficiaries reached Items distributed UNHCR1 Western Georgia 420 Blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans tents Eastern Georgia -- Distribution finalized Atheni Valley / Gori region 1.212 Blankets, tents

2.4 WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE

Lead Agency: UNICEF Participants: ACF/ACH, CARE, ICRC, IRD, Oxfam GB, UNFPA, CHF

1 Items distributed by UNHCR, 27 August 2008. Situation at 4 PM 2 Humanitarian Response & Achievements • The coordination group is working to identify the needs of the returnees in Gori, including WASH services in the new collective centres and tent camps. 1,000 hygiene kits are being procured locally for IDPs in the western regions.

Gaps & Planning • IDPs still residing in Tbilisi are in need of water and sanitation services. UNICEF estimates that these services will need to be provided to a major caseload in Tbilisi in the next two weeks. • In Adjara region, the health authorities have agreed on a distribution plan for locally procured hygiene kits, as well as school-in-a-box and recreational kits, using the established municipal distribution channels.

2.5 HEALTH AND NUTIRITION

Lead Agency: WHO/UNICEF Participants: ACF/ACH, ADRA, Counterpart, IRD, MSF-France, Oxfam GB, SCF, SDC, WVI, UNICEF, USAID, UMCOR, MdM, UNFPA.

Humanitarian Response & Achievements • A temporary center for internally displaced pregnant women and mothers with infants has been established in Tbilisi by Georgian authorities. In response to a request by the GoG, UNICEF has provided hygiene supplies, beds, and baby clothes to the center. • Coordination with the Food Aid CG is taking place for a longer term nutritional policy. This will include the containment and targeted distribution of infant formula, supplied by USAID. Save the Children will be the designated distribution agency of the formula. Yesterday, a public statement on infant feeding in emergency situations was issued by UNICEF. • The GoG has announced that all major IDP centers have dedicated primary care providers.

2.6 PROTECTION

Lead Agency: UNHCR Participants: Every Child, ICRC, NRC, Save the Children, World Vision, UNICEF, WFP, Halo Trust

Humanitarian Response & Achievements • UNHCR carried out systematic monitoring on three issues of concern: the new displacement from villages north of Gori; alleged pressure on IDPs to vacate collective centers in Tbilisi; and failed attempts of returnees to reach their villages north of Gori. • Monitoring results indicate that while there is still return movements from Tbilisi to Gori, a number of families or family members who left to inspect the situation have returned to Tbilisi.

Gaps & Planning • The level of concern and aggression is growing in collective centers. IDPs claim that they get inconsistent information as to the safety, status of mine clearance etc in their places of origin, and have to rely on information received from neighbors and relatives. • Consultations with partner organizations dealing with SGBV indicate that the number or rapes and other incidents of SGBV during the recent fighting is higher than initially estimated.

3.0 Access and Security

3.1 As of today 18 checkpoints remain north of Gori. Commercial transporters are available to take cargo between Poti and Tbilisi. However, they are reluctant to travel north of Gori and surrounding areas unless part of a UN convoy, due to insecurity.

3.2 The newly displaced that arrived in Gori have reported incidents of intimidation, physical violence and looting. Of equal concern are villages that are not accessible to humanitarian organizations within the zone around South Ossetia.

4.0 International Assistance

In-kind assistance

• As of 27 August, 115 airlifts, truck convoys or ships have delivered supplies to Georgia and North Ossetia since the start of the crisis. 10 more planes are in the pipeline. These figures include: o UN operations: 13 consignments; 2 more in the pipeline; o Government operations: 86 consignments, including 51 EUCOM operations; 5 more in the pipeline; o ICRC operations: 10 consignments; o IFRC operations: 4 consignments; o NGO operations: 2 joint flights Govt/NGO or National Red Cross Society landed in Tbilisi; 2 NGO flights and 1 joint flight NGO/Govt still in the pipeline.

Financial contributions

• On 18 August, an inter-agency flash appeal requesting $ 59.6 million for the next six months was released. • As of 27 August, the total funding directed specifically at projects in the Flash Appeal stands at $9.8 million contributed or committed, with a further $14.1 million as uncommitted pledges reported on OCHA FTS.

• Contributions to this emergency will be continuously registered and updated by OCHA’s Financial Tracking Service (FTS) at www.reliefweb.int/fts. Donor countries are encouraged to submit information on their contributions by sending an e-mail to FTS at [email protected].

5.0 Contacts

OCHA Geneva - Humanitarian Affairs Officer OCHA New York - Desk Officer Ms Aoibheann O’Keeffe Mr Alf Blikberg Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 43 29 Tel: +1 917 367 0215 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] OCHA Geneva - Press Contact OCHA New York - Press Contact Ms Elizabeth Byrs Ms Stephanie Bunker Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 26 53 Tel: +1 917 367 2549 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Office of the UN Resident Coordinator – Tbilisi, Georgia Ms Justyna Susla, Humanitarian Affairs Officer Tel: + 995 95 33 50 28 Email: [email protected]