CWS assisting refugees from Georgian conflict

A Georgian woman holding her baby cries in front of her destroyed home in Gori.
Photo: REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili, courtesy www.alertnet.org

August 14, 2008

OSSETIA, Republic of Georgia -- International humanitarian aid agency Church World Service is among those responding to the crisis in Georgia by assisting displaced persons and refugees from the conflict.

"With United Nations estimates as high as 100,000 people displaced by this conflict, the time to help can no longer wait," CWS Emergency Response Program Director Donna Derr said. "People are escaping violence quite literally with only the clothes on their backs, and in need of food and shelter."

Days of fighting in the disputed Ossetia territory have left thousands dead and wounded and driven scores from their homes. Government-supported assistance is just beginning to arrive in Tiblisi, including initial airlifts from the United Nations.

As part of the Action by Churches Together-International network, CWS supports two local partners, the Civic Development Institute and GENESIS, as well as ACT members, the Russian Orthodox Church and International Orthodox Christian Charities. ROC staff have begun delivery of relief assistance to refugees in North Ossetia. Other ACT members present in Georgia and the Russian Federation as well as in the wider region and internationally are mobilizing personnel and resources in support of local communities. Initial relief supplies provided have included foodstuffs, clothes and medicines.

CWS is accepting funds for an initial response and will likely issue an appeal to fund a more long-term response to this emergency. CWS staff continue to monitor the situation from the agency's New York headquarters, as well as from the CWS Europe office in Belgrade.

"We have more than 60 years of experience helping the most vulnerable populations recover from conflict," Derr said. "As our partners in the region begin to grapple with the effects of this violence, we stand ready to support them."

Contributions to support this and other CWS work can be made online, by calling 1-800-297-1516; or by mail to Church World Service, 28606 Phillips Street, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.

Media Contact:

Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net

SOURCE:

READ THE PREVIOUS POST RELATED TO THIS STORY: