http://meero.worldvision.org Latest news brought to you by World Vision's relief workers on the field. News that's so recent, you won't find it in your daily newspaper -- yet. en-us Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:01:36 +0200 info@meero.worldvision.org info@meero.worldvision.org World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:01:36 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1634&countryID=11 Thousands of displaced persons began moving from collection centres in Tbilisi back to their homes as Russian troops began pulling out of Gori and the surrounding area Friday, August 22. Parts of western Georgia, including the port town of Poti, Zugdidi, and Senaki still have Russian presence, however.
Parts of western Georgia, including the port town of Poti, Zugdidi, and Senaki still have Russian presence, however.

The government of Georgia on Sunday issued a list of places safe to return to, which included the city of Gori and several villages nearby, and is encouraging persons to make their way back home. Official numbers have yet to be released regarding the movement of displaced persons, number of persons remaining in collection centers, and the number of collection centers in general as some are shutting down as they empty.

'The third week of the response appears to be every bit as fluid as the first two, but for different reasons,' David Womble, National Director of World Vision Georgia, said. 'The government has informally announced plans to return most IDPs to Gori and surrounding villages. This poses all sorts of challenges for NGOs, such as safety and security, logistics of mass movements and resettlement, and coordination among agencies. We're in Gori today with three other INGOs to meet with the government to coordinate how we'll provide food.'

As the week unfolds, assessments and information will flow in to help determine what the new needs and numbers will be for Tbilisi, Gori and the surrounding villages. In the meantime, World Vision continues to deliver food and non-food items to collection centres in its focus areas of Tbilisi; doing daily pre-distribution registration for scheduled deliveries to determine if the number of beneficiaries has changed and if the centre is still in operation due to the movement of persons.

World Vision delivered 216 cots donated from USAID to all of the displaced persons staying at the former forestry centre, which now operates as a collection centre.

World Vision had already delivered food and other non-food items – wash basins and hygiene kits – to the centre on August 18. To date, World Vision has helped more than 12,000 beneficiaries with food and non-food items in over 50 centres.

-Ends-]]> The future is uncertain for many IDPs who don't have a home to return to. Photo by Ashley Jonathan Clements. World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:01:17 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1632&countryID=0 Word Vision participated in a UN-led convoy that distributed food and non-food items to people in Gori, Boshuri and Kareli, Friday. This convoy marks the first World Vision humanitarian aid to reach the people affected by the conflict who remained in Boshuri, a village five kilometres southwest of Gori, and in Kareli, a town 15 kilometres west of Gori on the major highway.
World Vision provided food in the first UN-led distribution to Gori last week. This second convoy contained World Vision-prepared hygiene kits for 750 people in Boshuri and 10-day food supplies for 500 people in Kareli. A second distribution of food to Kareli will be made tomorrow for 500 more people.

'World Vision continues to work with the World Food Programme (WFP) to help as many of the people affected by the crisis,' David Womble, National Director of World Vision Georgia, said. 'We hope to continue our humanitarian relief efforts to those we have not been able to reach, now that Russian troops are withdrawing back to South Ossetia.'

Russian troops starting heading north to South Ossetia today, fulfilling Russian President Dmitri Medvedev's promise that the withdrawal would begin today.

In addition, earlier this week, World Vision Georgia received trucks from Azerbaijan that contained 66.1 metric tons of food on Tuesday August 19. The shipment will feed 17,000 displaced persons for 10 days and was arranged through the help of the World Vision Azerbaijan office.

To date, World Vision has delivered food to more than 11,500 beneficiaries in 49 centres, and non-food items to more than 9,000 beneficiaries in 49 centres.

World Vision plans to help more than 50,000 beneficiaries in some 300 collection centres, of the more than 120,000 displaced living in more than 700 centres.

-Ends-]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:49:26 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1631&countryID=0 With homes destroyed and harsh winter weather just a few months away, it is likely many who have fled the recent violence in South Ossetia and surrounding areas will be unable to return before spring, World Vision warns. With nearly 160,000 civilians displaced in all, the organisation expects the region’s humanitarian needs to continue for six to 12 months.
'Once winter comes, it is likely the roads will be blocked and the weather conditions too extreme for displaced families to return to their communities,' said Ashley Clements, World Vision's emergency advocacy advisor. 'So if people are not able to go home before winter, they will be forced to remain in displacement centres for months. As a result, World Vision's emergency response may need to last as long as a year.'

Landmines laid during the recent conflict also pose a threat to those wishing to return home, especially children, and hinder full humanitarian access to some areas. For people who are able to return to their communities, damaged infrastructure may prevent a return to normal livelihoods. Those who stay in Georgia must endure life in displacement shelters, many of which lack running water, heat, electricity and windows.

'Children in some Georgia shelters are sleeping on bare concrete because these abandoned buildings lack bedding and other basics,' Clements said. 'World Vision will be providing mattresses to help, as well as continuing our distributions of food, hygiene kits and other basic necessities.'

Meanwhile, World Vision staff who visited Gori this week found that the population had received little humanitarian assistance, particularly people in villages outside of the city. Earlier this week, the organisation was able to provide its first food and emergency supplies to 1,000 residents of Gori and plans to increase distributions to the hard-hit city, along with more isolated families in surrounding villages.

Even families not directly displaced have been economically impacted by the crisis, World Vision has found. Poor entrepreneurs in Georgia who receive small loans through the agency's microfinance program, for example, have found it difficult to buy supplies and to sell their finished products because of blocked roads and lack of access to markets further afield.

To address the specific needs of displaced children in Georgia and North Ossetia, World Vision is planning Child-Friendly Spaces to offer them a safe place to play and regain a sense of normalcy, as well as talk with trained counselors about what they have experienced. In Tbilisi, the organisation is also addressing the special needs of pregnant and nursing women and their infants who have been forced to flee the violence.

As a leading relief and development agency in Georgia, World Vision is appealing for US$4.2 million for its response and plans to assist 45,000 displaced people in Georgia—along with additional families in North Ossetia.

-Ends-]]> Numbers of displaced persons are mounting and their future remains more uncertain. Reuters/ David Mdzinarishvili, courtesy www.alertnet.org World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:05:38 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1629&countryID=5 Recent training for 15 Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) in Armenia conducted by World Vision and the Civic Development & Partnership Foundation has met a desperate need for increased capacity related to financial management and fundraising.
Due to the lack of skills for the development of project proposals, Armenian DPOs are often unable to provide regular and sustainable services to children with disabilities, relying on non-regular financial contributions.

Training covered project development and implementation such as composing a project budget and narrative, state and donor requirements to financial reporting and the main components of a project proposal. The rights-based approach to child protection activities was also introduced to the participants.

DPOs work to protect the rights of people with disabilities in their integration into community life. Many who are very experienced in the child protection sphere, face problems in raising funding for their services, including educational, rehabilitation and surgeries, etc.

'I want to help our organisation in raising funds, but I lack the necessary skills for that. This training will help me start to write projects. I wish I could participate in more of this kind of training', said Syuzanna Grigoryan from Liarzhek Kyanq (meaning 'full life') NGO from Stepanavan town in the north of Armenia.

Besides the main principles of project writing in NGOs, participants were interested in the nuances of Armenian accounting standards and common mistakes in project proposals based on which donor organisations reject their proposals.

'I had written a project proposal of about US$50,000 for the renovation of facilities for children with disabilities. It was a project based on real urgent needs in our region but was not approved by the donor organisation due to budget planning mistakes and nonconformities with the project requirements', said Kamo Arakelyan, Executive Director of Child Support Foundation from Hrazdan town in the Kotayk region.

'For me the most important part of the training is budget planning. I was convinced that we really have knowledge gaps. I am going to review my project, improve it and apply for funding once again', continued Kamo Arakelyan.

The participants not only had a chance to develop their project writing skills, but also received important information about funding organisations and their projects, which DPOs can apply to.

There are currently 10 000 children living in special schools of Armenia. The number of children with disabilities is reaching 8 000 that comprise the 0, 7 percent of overall child population of the country.]]> Training aimed to improve the financial management and fundraising in Armenian DPOs. World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:27:27 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1628&countryID=10 Two new fresh produce markets opened in Iasi city, in Pacurari and Tatarasi neighbourhoods at the beginning of August, giving farmers a much-needed opportunity to sell their produce at key locations twice a week without paying fees and commissions on goods sold.
On the first day, 20 farmers marketed their cheese and yoghurt, eggs, vegetables, honey, fruit and other traditional produce, much to the delight of local residents.

'I think this idea is wonderful. It has a double advantage – the farmer now has a place to sell his produce and the buyer can get a better price because he buys directly from the producers, skipping any intermediaries', said Mihai, who lives near the market in Tatarasi.

The idea for this initiative was born out of an economical development project developed by World Vision Romania's Iasi Area Development Programme, in five rural communities in Iasi County aimed at raising living standards in rural communities by encouraging more efficient and productive agriculture and supporting small businesses.

In the longer term, World Vision hopes that grassroots initiatives like this will help families earn a sustainable income and provide for their children.

'I am thrilled that we finally managed to open these markets. We have had wonderful collaboration with local authorities. They embraced this initiative and helped us all the way. We are now working together to obtain producers certificates and authorizations for more than 40 people to sell their produce. Without these papers and due to the new EU regulations, they will not be able to sell their produce. And for many of them this is the only source of income', said Ms Tita, World Vision Romania Project Coordinator.

'As jobs are scarce in rural areas, people usually live on what ever they can sell – milk and cheese from their cows, eggs from their chickens, vegetables and fruit from their gardens and orchards. It would be a tragedy for them to lose these resources', she added.

The project, part of a collaboration protocol called 'Partnership and continuity for Romanian tradition', was successfully tested at the beginning of June when local authorities and World Vision organised an exhibition where nearly 40 farmers could present their traditional produce and show the public the high quality and value of traditional local specialties.

'We now hope that, with the support of the local media, more and more people in Iasi city will know about and choose these traditional markets over the newborn super and hyper markets that have sprung up in our city. The local produce is more natural and even cheaper', explained Ms.Tita.

Since Romania's accession into the EU, the country and its people, particularly farmers are coming to terms with new regulations and heightened competition and at the same time the need to secure funds for new community projects– three key challenges that World Vision is working with community groups to manage and harness for their own benefit.

-Ends-]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:11:42 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1625&countryID=11 The first humanitarian assistance is on its way to people in Gori, a city ravaged by bombing during the recent conflict in Georgia and the breakaway region of South.Osstia, through a coordinated effort by World Vision, the World Food Programme and the Georgian Ministry of Finance.
This delivery consists of a 10-day supply of food for 1,000 people in Gori, a city which continues to be occupied by Russian soldiers.

World Vision staff did not accompany the delivery for security reasons.

'Gori has been a no-go zone since the conflict began, so we know those people who have remained are in dire conditions,' David Womble, National Director of World Vision Georgia, said. 'We hope access will go smoothly, so we can increase the amount of urgent items we deliver to this conflict area.'

Gori has been a no-go zone since the conflict began, so we know those people who have remained are in dire conditions,' David Womble, National Director of World Vision Last night, Thursday 14 August, World Vision distributed 10-day food supplies to over 1,000 people in eight collection centers. Today, the organisation distributed food to over 2,000 beneficiaries in two collection centers. To date, World Vision has helped over 5,000 displaced persons in 22 centers.

While Russian soldiers remain in Gori, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Georgia to firm up the cease-fire agreement between Russia and Georgia. Russian troops control Gori, which is located 15 kilometers south of the South Ossetian border and 60 kilometers northwest of Tbilisi, though the occupation has remained largely non-violent.

As talks continue, the Georgian capital Tbilisi continues feeling the wave of the estimated 100,000 displaced persons by the conflict. In just a 24-hour period, the number of registered persons in collection centers dramatically jumped from nearly 20,000 to 50,000, and the number of centers grew from 279 to 439.

World Vision continues its efforts to help the ever-growing number of displaced persons flooding into Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. World Vision is helping 25,241 persons in 264 of the centers.]]> Today, the organisation distributed food to over 2,000 beneficiaries in two collection centers. To date, World Vision has helped over 5,000 displaced persons in 22 centers. Photocredit Leli Blagonravova World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:32:34 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1623&countryID=14 The first delivery of emergency medical supplies, including antibiotics and painkillers has been made by World Vision Russian Federation to assist undersupplied medical centres in Vladikavkaz that are having to cope with the sick and wounded from the South Ossetia conflict.
Medical supplies valued at US$25,000 provided through the World Vision Canada Gift Catalog were donated to a local Orthodox Church in Beslan, North Ossetia, from where they were distributed as needed.

'I don't even know how to express my gratitude for such a fast reaction to our request', said Father Sergii, priest at Saint George Church in Beslan, who helped unload medication alongside World Vision staff.

Father Sergii was an in-patient in the hospital and witnessed the influx of the wounded who required surgery and care. 'The pain killers are the most important thing for the hospitals now', he explained.

The Christian community has always played a special role as peacebuilders and protectors of the vulnerable and in the wake of the South Ossetia conflict, the Russian Orthodox Church and Georgian Orthodox church are committing to help bring reconciliation.

Metropolite Kiril, Chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Iliya II agreed that the two Orthodox Churches would work together to overcome the consequences of the conflict and assist the vulnerable.

'World Vision Russian Federation is also working closely with a number of other international organisations on monitoring the needs of the affected population and continues to call for a long and meaningful peace in the region,' commented Siobhan Kimmerle, National Director for World Vision in the Russian Federation.]]> Zarema, a Muslim, works side-by-side with Father Sergii to ensure supplies reach those in need. World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:20:52 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1619&countryID=0 Up to 100, 000 displaced persons continue to need shelter and support as the two presidents and international community continue working toward a five-point peace plan
World Vision offices in both Georgia and the Russian Federation are working on proportionate responses to great humanitarian need of those affected by conflict in Georgia and South Ossetia.

In Georgia, World Vision continues to work in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme, providing food, non-food items, and health supplies to many collection centers in the capital, as well as to others nearby. However, demand is vastly outpacing supply.

'The humanitarian needs are growing exponentially, faster than the combined agencies can keep up,' David Womble, National Director of World Vision Georgia, said.

'World Vision has been asked by the UNHCR, WFP, and the Government of Georgia to scale up our response as quickly as possible to meet the most immediate food, non-food, and health needs of IDPs. As of 1 a.m. August 13, the official list of IDPs registered was 10,000. At a food coordination meeting at 10 a.m., new figures of 19,000 were released. And still, this does not account for Western Georgia. We continue to look at the tip of the iceberg.'

In less than 24 hours, the number of collection centers in Tbilisi and the surrounding areas jumped from 51 to 95. The number of officially registered displaced people jumped nearly 50%, from 7,000 to 10,000, yet so many more remain unregistered, unsheltered and unfed.

World Vision Russian Federation participated in interagency visit including INGOs, UN agencies, and ECHO representative on Tuesday to assess the needs of those displaced in North Ossetia. The immediate needs of food, shelter, water and sanitation, health care, and basic non-food items are being met for the short term.

'WV is beginning its response in North Ossetia in partnership with the local and international community to ensure the assistance complements those efforts already underway. We will be focusing our assistance on the children so that they can begin to heal and cope with the traumas they are experiencing as a result of this conflict,' said Siobhan Kimmerle, World Vision Russian Federation National Director.

According to Russian officials, more than 30,000 people are reported to have fled the conflict zone and entered North Ossettia and over 150 public buildings were providing temporary shelter and the first tent camp was being set up to host 500 persons last Monday.

''With the start of the school year two weeks away, we are concerned and World Vision Russian Federation is considering how best to assist children and their families prepare to start the academic year in communities where they have been given temporary shelter.'

World Vision Russian Federation is also providing medical supplies to the wounded through partners that are to be delivered on Thursday.

"As we see those displaced, we are reminded that the face of devastation and fear has no ethnic nor political demarcation; our humanitarian response must likewise seek to provide an appropriate response for those affected by this violence,' added Kimmerle.]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:47:27 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1617&countryID=11 TBILISI – World Vision is continuing to work and coordinate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR) and World Food Programme (WFP) as thousands of people displaced by the fighting in South Ossetia and targeted areas of Georgia proper are heading into the Georgian capital Tbilisi as the violence spills over into a fifth day.
World Vision is providing both food and non-food items to the internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as medical supplies to Tbilisi's main, 'Republican' hospital.

World Vision has helped more than 700 people since Saturday and will continue its efforts today, Monday 11 August.

'We've just come from a meeting with WFP and have developed a short-term plan to cover those IDPs we know of in terms of continued food assistance. We will also continue with non-food items delivery to locations we know of,' David Womble, National Director of World Vision Georgia, explained.

'We will mobilise supplies from outside the country as well, but of course all of this depends on a cessation of attacks on Georgia. We need all parties to observe an immediate ceasefire,' Womble added.

The number of IDPs in Georgia proper and South Ossetia is estimated to be between 10,000 and 20,000 according to the UNHCR.

There are now 23 collection centres set up to receive people fleeing the violence, half of which are in the city itself, and the rest in towns and villages very near, for people seeking shelter.

World Vision is working with the WFP to meet the needs of IDPs in 11 of the centres.

World Vision is currently carrying out needs assesments in all the centres in Tbilisi, with a special focus on the needs of the children.

The extent of humanitarian suffering is described by World Vision staff as 'heartbreaking and profoundly disturbing.'

Many of the IDPs are arriving to Tbilisi however they can – by foot or by car – and with nothing but what they are wearing.

'I don't need anything, but peace,' shared an 11-year-old boy from the village of Ergneti in the Gori region.

'There were rockets in the sky and it was like lightning all the time,' he said. 'I'm here with my 4-year old sister and mother. Daddy also arrived. When we were going from Ergneti to Gori to visit my aunt, they dropped a bomb on the way and the building block started to shake. We got scared and we immediately came to Tbilisi,' continued the boy, describing his family's experience.]]> World Vision is providing both food and non-food items to the internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as medical supplies to Tbilisi’s main, “Republican” hospital. Photo by Dwayne Mamo, World Vision Georgia Communications Manager World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Sat, 9 Aug 2008 21:01:50 +0200 http://meero.worldvision.org/news_article.php?newsID=1615&countryID=11 World Vision began assisting displaced people in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi on Saturday August 9.
World Vision provided essential food and non-food items such as bars of soap, toilet paper, wet napkins, towels, bed sheets, large woolen blankets, and essential food items such as cans of canned meat with vegetables, pasta, canned fish, vegetable oil, iodized salt, among others items to an estimated 170 people, mainly women and children, who escaped the violence from Gori and villages in South Ossetia.

The refugees and internally displaced persons have been arriving at an existing center in Tbilisi that has been home to hundreds of families displaced from Georgia's other breakaway region of Abkhazia.

'I have seen war, but what I saw today was terrible. I haven't seen anything like that in my life. I was shocked. What are we going to do now?' asked a shaken and concerned 36-year-old woman, who managed to escape the violence from Gori with her two children.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has now declared a 15-day 'state of war' as clashes continue in South Ossetia and against military targets in Georgia.

World Vision will continue working with WFP and other organizations as more people continue to flee southward toward the Georgian capital.

All World Vision Georgia operations in Georgia, as well as its projects in Abkhazia, have been suspended for the time being, as all efforts are now focused on the humanitarian relief effort.

'UN agencies and NGOs will meet tomorrow [Sunday] to discuss the increasing humanitarian crisis and how the humanitarian actors can coordinate an effective response', explained David Womble, World Vision Georgia National Director.


World Vision will continue working with WFP and other organisations as more people are expected to flee southward toward the Georgian capital.


Currently, eight Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) locations have been identified. Three are located in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and five of them in other districts of the country. These locations have been identified by the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation, and are currently serving over 2,000 people with the number expected to rise as the violence continues.]]> Displaced families wait for relief at the IDP centre in Tbilisi. Numbers are expected to rise as violence continues. Photocredit: Dwayne Mamo, World Vision Georgia World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org