In recent weeks, the world has watched with horror the unfolding conflict between Georgia and Russia. As a result of the conflict, UNHCR estimates that close to 115 000 people have been displaced from their homes. Many of them are now housed in empty schools and other facilities in Tbilisi, which have been converted into emergency shelters.
Looting, arson attacks, and reported abductions by Russian and Ossetian forces have terrorized the local ethnic Georgian civilian population. The destruction and uncertainity has forced them to flee their homes, and even now prevents displaced people from returning home. Hardest hit are the young families, women and children, who are innocent victims of the brutal events taking place around them. Many children are traumatized, and will need help reintegrating back into any semblance of normal life.
GTG members, to provide relief to refugees from the Tskhinvali region, have begun providing daytime craft activities for displaced women and their children. The visitors have welcomed not only the food and human kindness they find at GTG, but also the opportunity to relax and to learn, to create and to express themselves through artistic activities. Enthusiasm is high, both among GTG’s visitors and its regulars, to continue this work and interaction in weeks and months to come.
We are in urgent need, however, of financial support for these activities. GTG spends about $50 per day providing fruit and drinks for the refugees and needs at least $30 per day to provide materials for these budding artisans to learn with.
Please consider sending funding now, of any amount, to assist GTG in providing this lifeline for our traumatized fellow citizens. You will be funding a posititve engagement in life, renewal, and revitalization for people who are the most affected by this terrible tragedy.
