In Georgia, refugees overwhelm relief efforts

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South Ossetians who were driven from their homes by fighting, wait to be registered in a refugee camp in the town of Alagir, 40 km (25 miles) south of Vladikavkaz, in the Russian province of North Ossetia, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008.


In Georgia, refugees overwhelm relief efforts
By David Nowak - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Aug 15, 2008 7:41:06 EDT

TBILISI, Georgia — Tired, hungry and penniless, her dark and bloodshot eyes betraying stressful days and sleepless nights, Manana Karelidze banged her head over and over against a concrete ledge.

She was one of the first to arrive at the Department of Refugees in this Georgian capital, and for the first few days had camped out on the street awaiting registration and the daily supplies of dry pasta that came with it. Hundreds were doing the same.

“This is too much. It is all too much,” said Karelidze, a 50-year-old retired accountant, raising her head to reveal bruises.

She is one of an estimated 56,000 Georgians who have fled to other parts of the nation since war between Georgia and Russia broke out a week ago. Most are from the ravaged town of Gori and ethnic Georgian villages in the breakaway province of South Ossetia. About 30,000 have fled across the border into Russia.

U.S. military cargo jets have begun arriving, carrying syringes, bandages, tents and other supplies for Georgians wounded or displaced by the fighting. Still, some areas have been slow to receive any international help.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_georgiarefugees_081508/