International donors seek aid access in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone

The Statement of the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator

Tbilisi, 14 August 2008 – The United Nations agencies and other humanitarian organizations do not have access to the conflict zones, particularly South Ossetia. Access to Gori, as of yesterday, was impossible for the United Nations agencies because of the unstable security situation and lawlessness.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Robert Watkins, appeals to all sides to the conflict to establish immediately the necessary security and administrative conditions to allow the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, as agreed in the ceasefire plan. This will enable the civilian population to leave, and allow humanitarian organizations to provide supplies and assistance to those in need.

The United Nations agencies began providing relief supplies to 10,000 people across the country that were displaced by the conflict.  UNHCR provided tents, jerry cans, blankets and kitchen sets to those in need, whilst WFP supplied food to more than 3,300 displaced children, women and men.  UNICEF provided hygine kits to 4,000 families.

For further information, please contact:
Keti Ghioshvili, UN Information Officer, +995 32 251126, ketevan.ghioshvili@unic.org