UNICEF: Both Russian and Georgian families face displacement 2

GENEVA, Switzerland, 28 August 2008 -- From the same conflict in and around South Ossetia, Georgia, these are the stories of two families: two stories, two temporary shelters in different places, but one very uncertain future.

Neatly painted and recently renovated, the 'Imedi' (Hope) kindergarten is located in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. It was supposed to welcome children after the summer holidays in September. Yet by turn of fate it reopened a lot sooner than planned. Instead of welcoming back tanned and rested children, the kindergarten quickly became a haven for people displaced by the conflict that broke out in Georgia on 7-8 August.

A similar story has occurred in North Ossetia, Russian Federation. There, in the town of Alagir, a peaceful and contemplative monastery for devout women was also temporarily re-purposed to house people who fled north from the fighting.

As the ceasefire agreed in mid-August continues to hold, internally displaced people in Georgia and refugees in North Ossetia are now heading home. But the tragic human consequences of the conflict will continue to be felt for a long time. A kindergarten and a monastery have borne witness to that.

In this video, UNICEF correspondent Kun Li reports on conditions for internally displaced families in Georgia.

To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/emerg/index_45375.html

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• Georgia
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• children
• protection
• homeless
• Russian
• Federation
• South
• Ossetia

[Fairy2211]

this is sadly sad. . . .