Some 160,000 people have been displaced by the conflict in Georgia. Thousands have begun to return home, however it is estimated that around 20,000 will remain in collective centres over the coming months. During this time Action Against Hunger will continue to assist the displaced, distributing basic food and hygiene goods to families in the cities of Tbilisi and Kutaisi, as well as restoring latrines in the collective centres within these cities.

It has been many weeks since the displaced people of Georgia fled their homes. Most of those who fled are from South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Following the withdrawal of Russian troops, thousands of residents of the eastern Georgian city of Gori are beginning to return to their homes. However, many of those who fled from South Ossetia are choosing to wait before returning to their homes, fearing their homes completely destroyed.

"All over the country, people are moving," says Vincent Stehli, Action Against Hunger's Programme Manager for the Caucasus. "Some of the displaced are returning to their homes, others are sending family members to the collective centres in Tbilisi, led by rumours that assistance is better there. Others continue to seek shelter in the collective centres, which often are schools. The living conditions in these centres are precarious and, with the upcoming beginning of the school term, people will have to leave these schools soon. There is great chaos."

Pasha Pakeliana is 63 years old and lives with her family in Abkhazia's Kodori valley, where most other residents are also Georgian. It is not the first time she has had to flee. She now sleeps on a mattress in one of the collective centres in Georgia's second largest city, Kutaisi. "I live in Abkhazia but I know that if I go back there I will never be able to leave again," Pasha says.

Hygiene conditions in the collective centres are basic, food is running short and food prices are increasing. "In Tiflis, the price of many essential items, such as flour and sugar is increasing," says Vincent Stehli upon his return from the Georgian capital.

Action Against Hunger has launched an emergency operation in the capital, Tbilisi and will distribute basic food and hygiene goods to 1,500 families sheltering in the 27 collective centres of the city over the coming month. In Kutaisi and other cities in the west of the country, Action Against Hunger will distribute hygiene products to 1,000 displaced families and will restore sanitation facilities in collective centres over the coming months.

Members of the Action Against Hunger emergency team have joined our existing teams on the ground to strengthen the assistance efforts for those displaced by this conflict. Action Against Hunger has been present in South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) since 1995, focusing on the implementation of water and sanitation programmes, along with food security.

ENDS

Action Against Hunger (ACF) is an international humanitarian network, working in 43 of the world's poorest countries. Its vocation is to save lives, especially those of malnourished children, and to work with vulnerable populations to preserve and restore their livelihoods with dignity.

For more information, please contact Alejandra Mahiques: amahiques@accioncontraelhambre.org / +34 91 391 53 06

Christine Kahmann: c.kahmann@aahuk.org / +44 (0)20 8293 6197