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Georgia: Thousands reported on the move in South Ossetia

Briefing Notes, 8 August 2008

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 8 August 2008, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR is closely following the situation in South Ossetia, where thousands of people are reported to be on the move following a week of violent clashes, including heavy shelling and sniper fire, between South Ossetian and Georgian forces.

Russian border officials informed UNHCR's Sub-Office in the southern Russian city of Vladikavkaz that people have been arriving to North Ossetia-Alania in the Russian Federation throughout the night. Authorities say thousands of people have arrived from South Ossetia to North Ossetia-Alania this week. According to non-official sources, some 400 people have moved from South Ossetia to other parts of Georgia. South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia, has an estimated population of more than 50,000.

Reports are trickling out of South Ossetia. This morning, a UNHCR staff member there reported that many buildings and houses have been destroyed and that only military personnel are moving on the streets. Water is also in short supply – a chronic problem worsened by recent events – and that most transport has stopped and shops are running out of food.

In Georgia, staff from UNHCR and our network of partners are monitoring the new arrivals from South Ossetia and maintaining close contact with the Georgian Ministry of Refugee and Accommodation.

In North Ossetia-Alania (Russian Federation), UNHCR's Office in Vladikavkaz is in daily contact with the authorities and following closely the situation. The governments of Georgia and the Russian Federation are responding to the immediate needs of the recent arrivals and have not asked for international assistance.

UNHCR's operations in Georgia focus on six groups totalling more than 275,000 people. They include internally displaced people linked to the conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as prima facie refugees, asylum seekers, stateless people and returnees. We have six offices in Georgia and more than 50 staff.

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Ingushetia: Internally Displaced Chechens

When fighting broke out between government troops and rebel forces in Chechnya in 1999, over 200,000 people fled the republic, most of them to the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia. Today, tens of thousands of Chechens remain displaced in Ingushetia, unwilling to go home because of continuing security concerns.

As of early December 2003, some 62,000 displaced Chechens were living in temporary settlements or in private accommodation. Those living in settlements face constant threats of eviction, often by owners who wish to use their buildings again.

Another 7,900 displaced Chechens live in tents in three remaining camps – Satsita, Sputnik, and Bart.

The authorities have repeatedly called for the closure of tent camps and the return of the displaced people to Chechnya. Three camps have been closed in the past year – Iman camp at Aki Yurt, "Bella" or B camp, and "Alina" or A camp. Chechens from the latter two camps who did not wish to go home were allowed to move to Satsita camp or other existing temporary settlements in Ingushetia.

Ingushetia: Internally Displaced Chechens

Displacement in Georgia

Tens of thousands of civilians are living in precarious conditions, having been driven from their homes by the crisis in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia.

On the morning of August 12, the first UNHCR-chartered plane carrying emergency aid arrived in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, the first UN assistance to arrive in the country since fighting broke out the previous week. The airlift brought in 34 tonnes of tents, jerry cans, blankets and kitchen sets from UNHCR's central emergency stockpile in Dubai. Items were then loaded onto trucks at the Tbilisi airport for transport and distribution.

A second UNHCR flight landed in Tbilisi on August 14, with a third one expected to arrive the following day. In addition, two UNHCR aid flights are scheduled to leave for Vladikavkaz in the Russian Federation the following week with mattresses, water tanks and other supplies for displaced South Ossetians.

Working with local partners, UNHCR is now providing assistance to the most vulnerable and needy. These include many young children and family members separated from one another. The situation is evolving rapidly and the refugee agency is monitoring the needs of the newly displaced population, which numbered some 115,000 on August 14.

Posted on 15 August 2008

Displacement in Georgia

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