Russia has long seen itself as the designated protector of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, however the relative quite cease-fire was broken last Thursday as Russian troops once again asserted their might and hold on the region, catching innocent civilians in the wake.
It is estimated that some 100,000 people have been displaced since the fighting between Georgia and Russia began only 5 days ago, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Many women and children are making their way to the safety of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, any way they can, even walking. Only today news came that planes of aid finally began to arrive in Capital. Agencies many focusing on women and children, including UNICEF, Save the Children and World Vision, have appealed both sides of the conflict to provide save guarded passages for which they can deliver much needed aid. The welfare of the countries children is of grave concern to aid agencies;
“We’re concerned for the safety of thousands of children who have had to leave their homes and villages with their families, said Tom Vincent, Country Director for Save the Children in Georgia. “Save the Children operates a drop-in center for low-income children in Gori, which is now inaccessible and largely abandoned due to the recent fighting. The well-being of these children, who may be separated from their parents, is at stake, as well as thousands more caught up in this conflict.”
'the security situation in Kutaisi, which is the second largest town in Georgia some 200 km west of Tbilisi, has deteriorated to such an extent that in the early hours of this morning, all of the children and their SOS mothers had to leave the SOS Children's Village.’
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated that Russia had suspended its military campaign, after being driven away from the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. However explosions continued in the Georgian city of Gori, where the brunt of the fighting has been felt, especially against civilians. In Moscow negations for a cease-fire are being led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, however no orders have been placed upon Russian troops to stand down, and Russia's Prime Minister and former President Vladimir Putin, has not made any public remarks on any de-escalation in the militaries current activities.
What does this all mean for Georgia's children of war? The answers are not yet known. What is know is that children have lost family members, parents, their own lives; children's lives have been uprooted, their education halted and access to basic essentials has become limited. Regardless of when peace comes and however quick the recovery and rebuilding of lives, the scars of conflict will remain deeply rooted in their childhood.
Please see the Russia blog for more information and view points on the conflict.
