In South Ossetia, the humanitarian and security situation is being stabilized and people have started returning to their homes. According to Russian authorities some 23,000 people from South Ossetia had returned from the Russian Federation since August 12.
"Our operation in Georgia is now shifting gears and we are entering a new, post-emergency phase," a UNHCR spokesperson said. Altogether, 122,000 people have been provided emergency relief, more than half of them by UNHCR teams. This was done in close cooperation with UNHCR's sister agency, WFP (World Food Programme), which provided the food while UNHCR delivered non-food items and shelter material.
While UNHCR continues to coordinate aid distribution in Georgia, the agency is also focusing on its traditional protection mandate. This is all the more complex as the situation on the ground is very dynamic with the continuing movement of people.
More than 158,000 people were displaced during the recent conflict - 128,000 within Georgia and some 30,000 who fled to the Russian Federation. Prior to the latest crisis UNHCR has been working on behalf of some 220,000 previously displaced people in Georgia.
The UN refugee agency has a long-established presence in the region and, since 1993, has been caring for some 275,000 people displaced previously. The agency has a presence in both countries, including in Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region and in the North Ossetia region of the Russian Federation. It has six offices and more than 50 staff in Georgia.