UN AGENCY WORRIED AT IMPACT OF GEORGIA CONFLICT ON CHILDREN

UN AGENCY WORRIED AT IMPACT OF GEORGIA CONFLICT ON CHILDREN New York, Aug 14 2008 10:10AM The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has voiced its concern about the impact of the heavy fighting in Georgia on young people in the area, and stressed the need to ensure they receive adequate protection and basic services.

"We need to be able to respond very rapidly to ensure a resumption of normal childhood activities for children and ensure that protection mechanisms and health standards are in place for them," ""http://www.unicef.org/emerg/index_45197.html">said Benjamin Perks, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Georgia.

Heavy fighting began last Thursday in South Ossetia between Georgian and South Ossetian forces, with Russian forces becoming involved there and in the separate region of Abkhazia in north-western Georgia over the past several days.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday welcomed the acceptance by Georgia and Russia of a proposed peace plan to end the conflict, and urged the parties to move quickly to halt the fighting.

Many have been killed and wounded, and large numbers of people have been uprooted from their homes. According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), around 100,000 people have been displaced by the conflict, with some having fled to other parts of Georgia while others moved to North Ossetia in Russia.

Mr. Perks said the agency is working to ensure that all children have basic health and hygiene needs taken care of.

"We have a particular problem… with institutionalized children and children with disabilities who have also been affected by the conflict and we're making sure that social services are able to provide support for the especially vulnerable children who do not have the protection of a family," he said.

He is also concerned about the psychological impact on children of the escalation in violence.

"Aerial bombardments, snipers, tanks – these are devastating for children and this is a number one concern that the huge escalation in violence and conflict will have a psychological impact not only on children but on their parents as well," he stated.

Even once people are able to return to their homes, they could face the threat of unexploded ordnance, Mr. Perks added. "The context of the conflict, the pace of the conflict and the military hardware and capability that has been deployed have huge impacts on children."

UNICEF reports that most people are being housed in collective centres while others are being housed with their families or other host families. According to UN assessments, there are 48 newly registered centres for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the capital, Tbilisi, and nearby areas, but the number is expected to grow as the influx of people continues.

In recent days UN agencies have been rushing humanitarian relief supplies to those most in need. UNHCR has airlifted some 34 tons of tents, jerry cans, blankets and kitchen sets into Georgia, while the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food rations to thousands of the displaced.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General's Representative on the Human Rights of IDPs, Walter Kälin, has expressed his alarm at reports that humanitarian access is still blocked and by allegations of widespread looting of property left behind by the displaced.

He "urges all parties to the conflict to ensure that persons who wish to do so can leave areas affected by violence, that property left behind be protected, and that unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations to conflict areas be granted," according to a news release issued in Geneva.

Mr. Kälin, an independent expert who reports to the UN Human Rights Council, also welcomed the signing of a ceasefire and called on Georgia and Russia to refrain from all actions that would cause further displacement.

"He also urges both governments to include in the envisaged peace plan provisions allowing the displaced to voluntarily return to their homes in safety and dignity and to have their property returned to them and compensation paid for damages. Those who cannot or do not want to return should be given the opportunity to integrate elsewhere in the country," the release added.
2008-08-14 00:00:00.000

________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/