Daily Report for 21 August 2008

Emergency Operation in Georgia

Displacements caused by recent conflict over South Ossetia Displacement within Georgia excl. South Ossetia 98,600 Displacement within South Ossetia 30,000 Sub Total Georgia 128,600 Displacement to Russian Federation 30,000 Displacements Total 158,600 In addition, Georgia has a caseload of 220,000 IDPs from previous crises.

Western Georgian distribution in full swing In Western and Central Georgia, UNHCR estimates that there are between 20 000 and 25 000 persons in need of assistance. The first shipment of aid arrived on August 19 by plane to Batumi airport and after a swift transport to the warehouses, the distribution is already well on its way.

Today the UNHCR team distributed non-food items for some 500 IDPs in the city of Senaki. These IDPs have been in the region already since 1992 – 1993 and are now facing a new catastrophe as their centres have been damaged by the bombings. The UNHCR team assessing the damages concluded that immediate reparations are needed to provide proper shelter before winter.

At the same time, a coordination meeting was held in the city of Kutaisi which will serve as a distribution hub for the region. The meeting, assisted by the local authorities, IDP representatives and UNHCR, assessed the needs in the area and the distribution started immediately reaching close to the western border of South Ossetia, as close as the villages of Sachkhre and Chiatura.

Furthermore, the urgently needed hygiene kits are being distributed by ICRC and NRC, upon request from UNHCR. Also, some 15 000 mattresses ordered by UNHCR are already on their way from Turkey.

Completing distribution in Tbilisi

UNHCR distribution teams completed yesterday the distribution of NFIs in the city of Tbilisi by handing out the last 7170 blankets and 3200 jerry-cans to the IDPs. UNHCR has now exhausted its stock in the capitol with a total of 42 765 blankets, 9980 kitchen sets and 17 900 jerry-cans distributed to some 40 000 IDPs in 195 communal centers since the beginning of the current crisis.

The organization is now focusing its efforts in reaching out to the other regions of Georgia but as the chair of the thematic group, UNHCR continues to coordinate the distribution of NFIs of the international community. Furthermore, as of today and during the next ten days to come, UNHCR will distribute in Tbilisi 3000 mattresses with pillows and bed sheets procured by SDC.

UNHCR Representation in Georgia 0160 Tbilisi 2a Kazbegi Ave tel.: ++995 32 152 054 tel. +995 99 152 054 fax +995 32 385 422 e-mail: [email protected] Media contact: Melita H. Sunjic, Spokesperson Tel. +995 95 115460 e-mail:[email protected]

Fact finding mission to Gori and Ateni Valley, first UNHCR convoy to Gori region Yesterday’s inter-agency fact finding mission to Gori, organized by UNHCR, reported that the town which normally has a registered traditional population of 50 000 and some 6000 IDPs from the previous conflicts, still appears deserted.

According to the local authorities, with whom the humanitarian delegation met, more than 80 % of the population has abandoned the town after the beginning of the conflict and moved mainly to Tbilisi or into the Ateni Valley. According to the inhabitants still remaining in Gori (mainly elderly people), the main obstacles for return are the prevailing insecurity and lack of food and other commodities. Many of the IDP population identified in the Ateni Valley are also short of food, non-food items, medicine and sanitary materials.

The first UNHCR convoy to the Gori region left Tbilisi this morning carrying 1000 blankets, 110 tents and 300 jerry-cans. However, humanitarian access to Gori cannot yet be considered to be secured in a longer term as the military presence in the area remains strong and systematic admission practices non-established.

UNHCR distribution in Eastern Georgia

Following the examples of Western and Central Georgia, UNHCR is now extending the aid to the eastern parts of the country. The UNHCR convoy left Tbilisi yesterday loaded with non food items for the region’s 6000 IDPs. The operation started this morning and at 3 PM local time, UNHCR had distributed NFIs for 1000 IDPs (305 families).

Most of the IDPs of Eastern Georgia come from the Gori region and reside mainly in former schools and kindergartens, currently used as IDP shelters. The UNHCR team distributed blankets, kitchen sets and jerry cans in Sagarejo and Gurjaani before continuing towards Telavi and the Akhmeta region, where part of the aid has been delivered to the town administration for further distribution.

UNHCR’s Eastern Georgia monitoring group has received strong support from the local population, prompt in coming to the aid of the internally displaced.