The USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is working to facilitate the offloading of relief commodities from the USS McFaul in Batumi port and onward transport to Tbilisi. Two additional ships are scheduled to deliver humanitarian supplies in the coming days. 

On August 24, a USAID/OFDA Shelter and Settlements specialist arrived in Tbilisi and is working with UN agencies and relief organizations to identify appropriate shelter options for IDPs in Tbilisi as well as returnees moving to pre-crisis areas. According to the Shelter and Settlements specialist, humanitarian organizations are reporting that most shelter damage in Gori is limited to broken windows, with houses around GOG military installations experiencing more significant damage.  According to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Government of Georgia (GOG) reports that between 10,000 and 15,000 people have returned to Gori since August 22. Other humanitarian organizations are reporting as many as 40,000 returnees.  

As of August 23, the USG has provided more than $20.7 million, including more than $3.9 million from USAID/OFDA, $2.8 million from the US Department of State, and nearly $14 million from the Department of Defense.  The total value of USG emergency relief commodities, including shelter, emergency food assistance, hygiene kits, sleeping bags, and medical items, is nearly $4.7 million.  Seven NGO partners, including Counterpart International, Samaritan's Purse, CARE International, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), World Vision, Save the Children, and Mercy Corps, have been delivering USG emergency relief commodities to populations in need. 

For more information, see USAID Fact Sheet #12