International donors seek aid access in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone
Statement of the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator
Tbilisi, 11 August 2008 – A group of international aid agencies today agreed to support the Government of Georgia in its efforts to address the humanitarian crisis caused by military action in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone.
"As the UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki-Moon mentioned in his message of 9 August 2008, the UN is deeply concerned with the current situation in the region. The impacts of the conflict are staggering. More than 56 thousand refugees from South Ossetia are in need of urgent assistance,” said Robert Watkins, UN Resident Coordinator. “We met today to discuss with the government the humanitarian aid that we could distribute. We call on all sides for humanitarian access and safe passage for thousands of civilians caught up in fighting in the region of conflict”.
In an immediate reaction to this crisis, the UN initiated a coordination mechanism for all international aid agencies. The UN will closely cooperate with the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Issues charged by the Government to coordinate humanitarian aid and channel assistance to the victims.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Labour, Health and Social Issues Alexander Kvitashvili, expressed gratitude to the international donors and stressed the importance of coordinated humanitarian aid.
The UN hopes that this initiative will help people displaced by the conflict receive the assistance they require in an effective and efficient manner.
