Children affected by conflict are in need of psychosocial assistance in North Ossetia
VLADIKAVKAZ, North Ossetia, Russia, 21 August 2008 - Irma Janaeva from Tskhinvali, in South Ossetia, mother of two year old Sarmat, calls it “a miracle that they managed to get away from the city while her relatives and loved ones had to stay behind”. Irma says that during the shelling she and her son had to spend several days in a cellar with no food or basic necessities. Nor has little Sarmat borne the war well – he can’t step away from his mother, he cries a lot and doesn’t sleep much. Irma says: “He is very capricious, nervous and he needs to see a doctor”. Most children at the temporary accommodation centre, located in one of Vladikavkaz’s secondary schools, are reluctant to talk about their experiences. But nine year old Vlad Zaseyev is to the point: “There was shooting and we got scared and ran away”. Diana Khabulova, who is also just nine, ran away with some members of her family – her mother and her grandparents. But she doesn’t want to talk about their escape. She says her granddad accidentally left behind their life savings in their home which was destroyed. When asked if she wants to go back to Tskhinvali, Diana shakes her head. About 30,000 people from South Ossetia sought refuge in North Ossetia, 80% of them are women and children. All the children are in need of psychological assistance – something UNICEF in North Caucasus has substantial experience in providing. Rashed Mustafa, head of UNICEF office in the North Caucasus said: “We have significant experience in this field following an extensive psychosocial recovery programme in the aftermath of the Beslan school crisis in 2004.”
Specialists in this field will conduct a rapid assessment of the psychological state of children and women from South Ossetia, to identify the most effective ways to help them. Other needs of children and women will be met as well. “With the school year starting in just two weeks, on 1 September, there is an urgent need to ensure the children don’t miss out on school and to give them a sense of normality,” said Mr. Mustafa. UNICEF is preparing to equip the displaced children with essential school supplies, including schoolbags, pens, pencils, school diaries and exercise books. Flash appeal for the displaced Nearly 160,000 people, many of them children and women, have been displaced as a result of the recent conflict in and around South Ossetia, Georgia. Many others have been killed and wounded. UNICEF is still very concerned over lack of humanitarian access to affected areas. The organization has launched a flash appeal for $6.5 million to aid displaced children and families. In Georgia, most of the estimated 128,600 displaced have been accommodated in 170 temporary facilities such as kindergartens, schools, and public and government buildings. However, many lack toilets, potable water and electricity. UNICEF has distributed nutritional and hygiene supplies and water-purification tablets to more than 4,000 people in the troubled region. In addition, UNICEF is planning to airlift School-in-a-Box and recreation kits, basic family kits, and water and sanitation materials for approximately 6,000 families. In the Russian Federation, another 30,000 people – 80 per cent of them women and children – have crossed the border into North Ossetia and other regions. The Russian Emergency Response Ministry, EMERCOM, has been supporting the emergency needs of the displaced in 56 centres.
Crisis response Related links Displaced mothers and children get help at UNICEF-supported breastfeeding centre Two families face the future – in Tbilisi, Georgia, and North Ossetia, Russian Federation UNICEF to Spend $1.45 Million Assisting Displaced People from South Ossetia, Georgia Nearly 40,000 children in need of urgent assistance in Georgia Children affected by conflict are in need of psychosocial assistance in North Ossetia Conflict in Georgia leaves thousands of children displaced and vulnerable UNICEF, WFP deliver water, food and hygiene kits to residents of conflicted affected town in Georgia UNICEF responds to immediate needs of displaced children and women in Georgia Concern for thousands of children and women in need in Georgia and Russia |
