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Additional help from European Caritas organisations to war-stricken Caucausus

Brussels, 19 August 2008 - Further to a first humanitarian aid delivery from the Caritas Internationalis Confederation to assist the victims of the conflict between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, European Caritas organisations are engaging in new economic support to help the local Caritas cope with the needs of the victims. 

The initial emergency aid of 250,000 euro was financed by Caritas Germany, Secours Catholique (Caritas France), Caritas Spain, Caritas Italy, together with Caritas Internationalis and Catholic Relief Services (United States). This Caritas Rapid Emergency Response was approved on Monday 11 August 2008 and aimed to support the relief work of the local Caritas network in the region.

Caritas Italy, who already sent an initial help of 50,000 euro last week, is announcing today its plans to send a complementary amount of another fifty thousand euro to support rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in war-stricken zones. Caritas Italy will also organise a national fundraising campaign that will take place from 24 August to 31 August.

Likewise Caritas Italy, Caritas Germany has also increased its initial 50,000 euro financial support to a total of 100,000 euro, financing among other projects 15 medical centers run by local Caritas organisations.

Secours Catholique is going to add to its initial 50,000 euro help a further amount of 20,000 euro. This sum will be allocated to the work of the local Caritas Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia, Russia). Nearly 40,000 thousand refugees from South Ossetia have found shelter in North Ossetia.

The initial group has been joined by Caritas Switzerland and Cordaid (Caritas Netherlands), who announced that they have sent CHF 50,000 and 100,000 euro respectively to help the Caritas network in Georgia and Russia cope with the needs of the refugees.

Despite Russian president Mr. Medvedev's pledge to pull out its troops from Georgia by Friday 22 August, the situation in South Ossetia is still very tense. Caritas operators are encountering difficulties in accessing the areas around Tskhinvali.

      An injured woman survived the Russian bombardment of the city of Gori on 9 August 2008. At least 5 people were killed during the attack. Picture: REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili - Courtesy of AlertNet.org

An injured man in a bomb-hit hospital in Zchinwali, South Ossetia.  

Picture: REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov
Courtesy of AlertNet.org

 

  Further information

  In-depth information about the conflict in Georgia
  Georgia: Abhkazia and S. Ossetia - Two regions struggle for autonomy
  REUTERS/AlertNet.org
       
  - Caritas Europa is a member of REUTERS/AlertNet.org -
 
         
            
 

  Related links
 
  Caritas International Germany
  19.06.08 - Caritas Georgia and Caritas Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia receive emergency help [de]
 

 
  Caritas Italy
  19.08.08 - National fundraising for the Caucausus [it]
 

  Secours Catholique-Caritas France 
  18.06.08 -  Georgia: Number of displaced increases day by day [fr]
 
 
  Caritas Netherlands (Cordaid)
  15.08.08 - Cordaid gives 100,000 euro for the refugees in Georgia [nl]
 
 
  Caritas Switzerland
  14.08.08 - Caritas allocates CHF 50,000 for the refugees [fr - de]
 

 

 

 

 



     

 
 

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