Over 158,000 people displaced by S.Ossetia conflict: UNHCR

AFP
August 17, 2008 Sunday 4:38 PM GMT

The UN refugee agency on Sunday said the number of people displaced by the South Ossetia conflict now number some 158,600.

This included 98,600 people displaced within Georgia, 30,000 displaced within South Ossetia and 30,000 others displaced in Russia, said the UNHCR.

A convoy of the World Food Programme and UNHCR managed to enter Georgian city Gori on Sunday, said the UN agency, adding that it managed to deliver non-food relief items for 1,500 people.

Access to the city was blocked earlier Sunday, illustrating "the volatility and unpredictability of the security situation," the agency said.

"It remains to be seen whether the UN will be allowed to bring more assistance in coming days," it added.