Irma and Sarmat: “It’s miracle that we managed to get away from South Ossetia”
Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, Russian Federation, 20 August 2008. Irma Janaeva from South Ossetia, , mother of two year old Sarmat, calls it “a miracle that they managed to get away from the village 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. For more information contact UNICEF Communications Officer Andrei Muchnik at: amuchnik@unicef.org or +7 928 796 6133
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