Civilians in the aftermath of war: The Georgia-Russia conflict one year on

The five-day war that began on the night of 7-8 August 2008 between Georgia and the Russian Federation resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths, thousands of injuries and the displacement of almost 192,000 people.
One year on from the conflict, its impact is still being felt – particularly in and around the disputed region of South Ossetia which is the focus of this report.
An estimated 30,000 people, mostly ethnic Georgians, remain displaced. Of these, the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that some 18,500 displaced people
from South Ossetia are unlikely to be able to return in the short term.
Security concerns and tensions run high in and around South Ossetia. The dangers of Explosive Remnants of War (EWR) persist and the clearance of
battlefield areas is on-going. An omnipresent sense of tension and insecurity prevent many people from returning to their homes and carrying on with their lives. Many of the people who have returned are facing a new reality brought about by the conflict, a reality in which they struggle to rebuild their lives and livelihood.