Georgian refugees' plight is grim

[bemildred]

Source: LA Times

TBILISI, GEORGIA -- They squat in abandoned buildings, crash in rickety schoolhouses or sleep under bushes and trees. They stumble into the city wooden-faced and traumatized, children in tow, with little or nothing but the clothes they were wearing when they fled their houses.

Tens of thousands of Georgians have been forced from their homes by days of fighting and Russian occupation, leaving this small country suddenly swamped in a major humanitarian crisis. Georgia is now packed with homeless and panicked families in desperate need of shelter, clothes, food and medicine. This week's cease-fire has not ended the suffering.

The crush of displaced people has proved more than the government or aid organizations can handle. Many who have taken shelter in the Georgian capital say they could not have survived if not for an impromptu outpouring of charity from fellow Georgians, who have opened their doors to strangers and shown up at shelters bearing food, bedding, soap and medicine.

Although aid is being quickly flown into Georgia and has begun to arrive at shelters, including 82 tons from the U.S. over the last two days, many refugees are still waiting for help. People are sleeping on the bare floors of schools and other government buildings, some of which lack proper bathrooms or electricity.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-humanitarian16-2008aug16,0,6825143.story

[Warpy]

1. The same goes for the South Ossetians

and don't forget that Georgia shot first.

As usual, the civilians are bearing the brunt of the misery of a stupid and useless war.

[UpInArms]

2. as always, when the rich wage war

the poor suffer