Georgia: IOCC delivers aid to families who fled to North Ossetia

Baltimore, Maryland — With assistance from the Russian Orthodox Church, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) delivered humanitarian aid to 100 families that fled to North Ossetia (the Russian Federation) from the conflict in Georgia.

The families are taking shelter in the Alansky Epiphany Monastery in the town of Alagir. IOCC distributed hygiene supplies, linen, towels, kitchen utensils, toys, baby food, and diapers. More than 155,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Georgia and South Ossetia since the conflict began on August 8.

"IOCC's longstanding relationship with the Orthodox churches of Georgia and Russia allows us to serve all who have been victimized by this conflict," says Greg Manzuk, IOCC Emergency Response Coordinator for Georgia and Russia.

IOCC began providing assistance to displaced persons in and around Tbilisi on August 13, assisting more than 1,000 individuals in three distributions. The displaced families included South Ossetians, ethnic Russians, and Georgians. IOCC will expand its assistance to other parts of the country that are receiving less assistance than the capital.

Since the early 1990s, IOCC has been active in both Russia and Georgia, working in cooperation with the Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches to provide food assistance, agricultural development, infrastructure repair and micro finance programs.

To help in providing emergency relief, call IOCC's donation hotline toll-free at 1-877-803-4622, make a gift on-line at http://www.iocc.org, or mail a check or money order payable to "IOCC" and write "Conflict in the Caucasus" in the memo line to: IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.

IOCC, founded in 1992 as the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), has implemented over $275 million in relief and development programs in 33 countries around the world.

Media: Contact Ms. Amal Morcos at 410-243-9820 or (cell) 443-823-3489.

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