Save the Children seeks public support to assist displaced persons in Georgia

(August 12) -- Save the Children has issued an urgent appeal for US$1 million to meet the critical needs of thousands of children and their families forced to flee their homes as a result of the ongoing conflict between Georgia and Russia.

Tom Vincent, Country Director for Save the Children in Georgia, said: "We're concerned for the safety of thousands of children who have had to leave their homes and villages with their families. It is likely that some children will have been separated from their parents in the confusion and if so, these children will be particularly vulnerable and in need of support. Save the Children operates a drop-in center for low-income children in Gori, which is now inaccessible and largely abandoned due to the recent fighting. We are concerned about the well-being of these children and thousands more caught up in this conflict."

Vincent noted that currently there is very limited international access to much of the western part of Georgia or to South Ossetia. Large numbers of people have headed south away from the fighting to Rustavi where the Government is converting schools into collection points and shelters.

"Our biggest priority," Vincent said, "is to provide clean water and shelter to internally displaced people (IDP) through 11 IDP sites. Growing numbers of people are heading to Rustavi and other places where the Government has started to convert schools into shelters for displaced families. Yet these facilities have limited capacity and access to clean water."

As part of its initial response, Save the Children is seeking to reach some 3,000 war-affected and displaced families. The charity has bought food for 1,600 people for a 10-day period which will be distributed throughout the camps where displaced families are located and we will also be purchasing medicines for hospitals that are running short of supplies. Staff members are also putting together health, household and hygiene kits.

"The scale of what we are dealing with is rapidly growing,” Vincent said. “People left their homes with little or nothing and are arriving at camps in increasing numbers. Children are incredibly vulnerable right now and our task ahead is to ensure that they have somewhere safe where they can get food, water and medical care."

More on Save the Children’s Response

Save the Children is in the process of purchasing food commodities for 1,600 persons for the next 10 days to be distributed at 11 shelters created for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The agency is purchasing and warehousing food commodities in Tbilisi to distribute to 6 IDP sites is Rustavi district, 1 IDP site in Lagodeshi, 1 IDP site in Sagarejo, 1 Gardabani, 1 IDP site in Bolnisi and 1 IDP site in Borjomi district (for a total 11 IDP sites.)
As one of the largest NGOs working in Georgia, Save the Children is participating in meetings called by U.N. officials and other NGOs including Care and World Vision to plan a coordinated response to the crisis. Save the Children is providing child-focused expertise in emergency food relief, shelter, non-food relief, children's protection and their health and nutrition.
For over a decade, Save the Children has focused on the needs of Georgia's most vulnerable populations, including street children and displaced families, as well as assisting communities in meeting basic needs in health, education, and livelihoods.

Media Contact

Mike Kiernan: mkiernan@savechildren.org; 202-480-0614 (Cell); 202-640-6630 (Office)