Emergency Operation in

Daily Report for 16 August 2008

Displacements caused by recent conflict over South Ossetia Displacement within Georgia excl. South Ossetia 98,603 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.

Security incidents delay the delivery of assistance After a car of the World Food Programme (WFP) was stopped by four bandits and looted between Alekseevka and Tsalka this morning, UNHCR ordered back a truck that was heading for in Western Georgia on the same route. The truck had been assigned to deliver urgently needed aid to IDPs from Upper Kodori Valley presently accommodated by the Ministry for Refugees and Accommodation (MRA) in Kutaisi. This is a group of refugees that was evacuated from the battle zone by several UNHCR convoys.

In spite of that incident, UNHCR with the assistance of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has increased the number of deliveries. During the last 36 hours, UNHCR managed to provide blankets, jerry cans and kitchen sets at 20 different locations to a total of 4,312 beneficiaries.

However, UNHCR is alarmed by the security situation and is currently looking into alternative ways to provide assistance for IDPs in western parts of the country. In , UNHCR has stockpiles of non-food Items for some 35,000 to 40,000 people. Food is provided by the UNHCR’s sister agency WFP.

Number of government counted IDPs is growing exponentially The number of individuals reporting to the authorities as IDPs has dramatically increased over the past days. It has practically doubled every day since 12 August (4,815 individuals) to 72,228 IDPs this morning.

The Georgian Government in cooperation with UNHCR has restructured its registration system from a mere headcount to full registration of the bio data of IDPs which will allow for a more comprehensive and targeted assessment of needs. At the same time, the Ministry for Refugees and Accommodation has handed over the responsibility for registering IDPs to the Civil Registration Agency (CRA).

Most of the newly registered individuals are not new arrivals but rather persons who came after fighting stated on 8 August. However, they cannot stay with friends and relatives any longer and are looking for a more permanent place to live. Also, they are afraid that they will have to move to tents once all collective centres are filled to capacity.

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]

IDPs in western Georgia mostly in private accommodations A mission conducted by UNHCR staff from the field office in today revealed that the authorities in western Georgia are still registering arrivals from , Gori, Kareuli and Kodori. According to the last figure provided by the MRA, 5,683 IDPs were registered in the region, but their number is growing on a daily basis. Approximately 70% are staying in private accommodations, the others in schools and other public institutions all over the western region.

The IDPs received modest food assistance (bread, cheese, oil, tin cans) from the local authorities. The population in Zugdidi has donated three tons of food and non food assistance but transportation has not been resolved yet.

The health situation of the new arrivals remains normal, including the common symptoms of stress such as high blood pressure, emotional shock and heart problems. The IDPs told UNHCR staff they needed food, medicine, bed sheets, hygienic items, blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets as well as plastic sheets to cover the trucks that are carrying all thei