USAID Partners Assess the Humanitarian Situation

Two IDPs, Nino and her seven month nephew Levan from Eredvi in the Tskhinvali region outside an IDP center in Tbilisi

USAID implementing partners have noted that priority needs in many internally displaced person (IDP) collective centers in and around Tbilisi include psycho-social support; water, sanitation, and hygiene activities; and assistance to vulnerable populations, including women and children. 

According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), priority needs for the nearly 40,000 children affected by the Georgia crisis include psycho-social assistance and nutrition support. In an August 22 statement, UNICEF reiterated that many IDP collective centers lack adequate water and sanitation facilities.  Humanitarian organizations continue to report that overall priority needs include hygiene kits, water containers, blankets, mattresses, pillows, bed sheets, and cooking stoves. Transportation routes continue to improve in Georgia.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a railroad line, which was damaged in mid-August, has been repaired and will be fully functional within the next few days. International media have reported that Georgian authorities have regained control of the country's main East-West highway following the partial Russian withdrawal on August 22.