Georgia-Russia conflict has grave impact on women, children:UNICEF
SWITZERLAND: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed
its deep concern on Tuesday about the grave impact that the recent
conflict in and around Georgia’s South Ossetia with Russia has had on
children and women.
Displaced children and women have had “their whole world turned
upside down”, and they are anxious and insecure, said Maria Calivis,
UNICEF’s regional director for Central and Eastern Europe and the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
Many women and children “are living in very difficult conditions and
need special care and support to return to normal life,” said Calivis,
following a visit to the region.
She emphasized the importance of children returning to classes as
quickly as conditions permit.
“Giving children the hope of returning to school provides a sense of
normality and hope for the future,” she said.
Calivis said UNICEF humanitarian assistance had been made available
to the South Ossetia region from the first days of the crisis, targeting
the health, nutrition, water and sanitation and psycho-social needs of
displaced children and women in collective centers.
She called on the international donor community to continue to
contribute generously in order to provide much-needed assistance. She
also urged national authorities of Georgia and Russia to ensure
effective delivery of the aid to all children. GENEVA, Wednesday,
Xinhua
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