LOC16:17
13:17 GMT
GENEVA, Aug 8 (KUNA) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
said Friday that it was closely following the situation in South Ossetia,
where thousands of people are reported to be on the move following a week of
violent clashes between South Ossetian and Georgian forces.
UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond told reporters that authorities say
thousands of people have arrived from South Ossetia to North Ossetia-Alania
this week.
According to non-official sources, some 400 people have moved from South
Ossetia to other parts of Georgia.
South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia, has an estimated population
of more than 50,000.
This morning, a UNHCR staff member there reported that many buildings and
houses have been destroyed and that only military personnel are moving on the
streets.
Water is also in short supply -- a chronic problem worsened by recent
events -- and that most transport has stopped and shops are running out of
food.
UNHCR's operations in Georgia focus on six groups totaling more than 275,
000 people.
They include internally displaced people linked to the conflicts in South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as prima facie refugees, asylum seekers,
stateless people and returnees.(end)
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