Georgia/Russian Federation: ICRC to expand operation in South Ossetia
21-08-2008 Operational Update
After arriving in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali on 20 August, the ICRC has begun in earnest an assessment of humanitarian needs. In the coming days and weeks, the organization will expand its operation in South Ossetia and bolster its team in the capital, while continuing to assist displaced people in Tbilisi and other parts of Georgia, as well as North Ossetia in the Russian Federation.
An ICRC convoy of 5 Land Cruisers with 7 expatriate staff and 10 national staff arrived in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali at around 17:30 (local time)/15:30 (GVA time) on Wednesday 20 August. The team includes a surgeon, an orthopaedic doctor, other health staff, a water and sanitation expert, an assistance specialist and protection delegates.
News from South Ossetia
On the road from North Ossetia to South Ossetia, the ICRC team saw burnt out cars and got the overall sense of a feeling of desolation. In Tskhinvali itself, store shelves appear to be empty although it seems that the Russian government is providing assistance to people.
The ICRC team was greeted by Boris Chochiev, of the de facto South Ossetian government. Local ICRC staff were eagerly awaiting the convoy's arrival. The ICRC has had an office in Tskhinvali for several years but when the fighting broke out two weeks ago, most of the staff were forced to flee or hide and thus the office has not been operational. There was a general feeling of relief that the office will be back up and running soon.
The team spoke to a small group of residents, who came to the ICRC office on Wednesday evening (20 August) and Thursday morning to express concern over family members who were unaccounted for or with whom they had lost contact.
The ICRC team hea rd isolated gun shots over night. Sporadic explosions are also occurring reportedly as the result of de-mining efforts. The team says that residents remain on-edge due to this.
Evaluation of humanitarian needs
ICRC evaluation efforts got underway in earnest on 21 August. The team visited Tskhinvali's main hospital to evaluate the state of the medical facility and the needs of patients. They brought a war wounded kit (for 25 people) with them, which they gave to the hospital. They will try to get an idea of what type of provisions (food and supplies) are available to residents.
Detainees / persons unaccounted for
The ICRC team is expected to meet with the de facto South Ossetian authorities on 21 August to discuss gaining access to all persons detained in connection with the hostilities and to discuss other protection-related issues such as persons unaccounted for and restoring family links. The ICRC has received reports of a number of people in South Ossetia whose whereabouts remain unknown for the moment.
Human remains
The ICRC will also support the authorities in efforts to ensure that human remains are properly identified, a nd where possible help to bring them back to their families.
Supplying food and water assistance
Distribution of relief goods continues. So far, the ICRC has provided food and non-food items, such as blankets, medicine and jerrycans, to at least 7,000 people in Georgia, including Tbilisi, Gori and Zugdidi. It has also restored access to clean water and improved sanitation conditions for an additional 3,700 people, bringing the total number of people assisted in Georgia thus far to over 10,000.
Establishing a base of operations in Gori
The ICRC is setting up an office in the Georgian town of Gori on 21 August. This will enable the organization to provide additional help to isolated villages near the town, where people may remain cut off from assistance. More and more people are being seen on the streets – mainly the elderly – who have been asking for food and medicine. Around 1,000 people have received food and non-food items from the ICRC in Gori so far. (This figure is included in the above mentioned total of 10,000.)
Health – delivering supplies for war wounded and visiting hospitals
The ICRC delivered three war wounded kits to the hospital in the Georgian town of Kutaisi on Monday 18 August, as well as one to the hospital in Kareli. Medical assessment teams from both Tbilisi and Zugdidi were able to visit the hospital in Kutaisi on Monday.
Restoring family links
The ICRC's tracing delegates continue to hear from people who are very worried about the relatives they left behind, especially in South Ossetia. Many are concerned about their elderly relatives, who were unable to flee when the fighting began. Now that the ICRC has access to South Ossetia, the exchange of news between families in Georgia and their relatives in South Ossetia will begin in full force.
A distribution of hygiene items at four collective centres in North Ossetia (in Alagir, Urdson, Metallurg) took place on Wednesday for over 420 people. This brings the total number of people assisted by the ICRC and the Russian Red Cross in North Ossetia to over 1,000.