Stories about Refugees from August, 2008
Georgia: Unfrozen Conflicts
Marilisa Lorusso's Blog comments on the conflict between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia and says that the military solution has brought the world closer to a new Cold War. However, the blog notes, while the Georgian president continues to survive defeat on the battlefield, a political solution would have...
South Ossetia, Russia: Photos From Tskhinvali and Vladikavkaz
Photo reports (RUS) by LJ user photomans: from Tskhinvali – here; from a refugee camp in Vladikavkaz – here.
South Ossetia: Photos From Tskhinvali
Photos from Tskhinvali – by LJ user grend (RUS).
Georgia: Photo Blogs
Georgia & South Caucasus posts a selection of images from two photo blogs taken in the aftermath of the Russian-Georgian conflict over South Ossetia. The photos include those of IDPs in Tbilisi and from the strategic town of Gori which was until recently occupied by Russian troops.
Georgia: Dispatches
My The Caucasian Knot has posts accompanied by photographs of a press conference given by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, an account of attempts to get into the Russian-occupied town of Gori, humanitarian concerns in Tbilisi following an influx of IDPs, and a report...
Georgia: Dispatches Under Russian Occupation
When Russian forces rolled into the strategic Georgian town of Gori, information on the occupation was scarce. Journalists died during Russian bombing runs in the military campaign leading up Gori's capture, others were shot at, and access to the town was not only limited, but also perilous with South Ossetian, Chechen and Cossack militia hijacking cars and robbing occupants. The posts by the radio station's Goga Aptsiauri are a fascinating account of life under Russian occupation. In his final post made two days ago, Aptsiauri reports that the Russian military had finally left.
Palestine: Boats break siege of Gaza
The latest news on the two boats attempting to sail to the Gaza Strip as an act of solidarity is that they have reached Gaza, despite earlier warnings that they might not be permitted to do so. Bloggers have reacted to the action with both excitement and concern.
Yemen: Somalia's True Neighbour
“While our rich and much wealthier neighbors shun Somali refugees and keep them out, Yemen – one of the poorest countries in the world – is one of the very few places that Somali refugees are warmly welcomed, allowed to freely move and work; and have free health care and...
Georgia, Russia: The War's Virtual Dimension
Like most other contemporary conflicts, the ongoing one in Georgia and South Ossetia has had a virtual dimension from its very start. Below are two bloggers' reflections on the wars raging outside the actual conflict zones.
Video of Colombian refugees attacking a family in Chile raises concerns
A cell phone video where a group of people are seen attacking a family with sticks and stones, and leaving most of them unconscious, has been determined to show 10 Colombian refugees attacking a family of Peruvian residents getting home from a party in the town of Iquique in Chile on August 3rd 2008. This video evidence was used by the District Attorney in processing and imprisoning at least two of the Colombian refugees who were later released.
Georgia, Russia: Governments Unable to Protect Civilians
Ukrainian journalist Ihor Lutsenko - LJ user igordaily - has just returned from an assignment in Georgia. Below is one the latest posts on his blog, about the plight of both Georgian and Russian citizens currently in Georgia.
Georgia, Russia: Tbilisi Reports
Three bloggers who are currently in Tbilisi describe what life there has been like in the past few days. According to LJ user oleg_panfilov, everything is quiet in the Georgian capital this night, while tomorrow "there'll be plenty of politics," because presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Ukraine are expected to descend on the city.
Kosovo: No improvement in Roma situation
Romano Them informs about the situation of Roma in Kosovska Mitrovica and links to their recent report about the situation.
Afghanistan: Diaspora in Iran
The Rumi tells about Afghani refugees in Iran and a girl, who blogs in English about the life of diaspora.
Palestine: The children who forgot how to have fun
The situation in the Gaza Strip has affected every aspect of life, and every age group. Blogger Samaher Al Khazandar describes the difficulties a kindergarten had when trying to hold a party at the end of the school year. But can children living in war zones enjoy their childhood?
Croatia: Anniversary of Operation Storm
On the 4th of August 1995 the largest European land offensive since World War II started in Central Croatia, in the area of Krajina. Until then Croatian Serbs were the majority population there, but a few days later there were no Serbian families left in this area. For that reason it was called Operation Storm (Operacija Oluja). Bloggers comment on the anniversary.
Georgia: While World Eyes Turn Away
Itching for Eestima fears that now may be a time for the Russian-Georgian conflict over South Ossetia to escalate, while the world's attention is turned to the Olympics and the US presidential elections.
Syria: Iraqi Prostitutes in Syria
Arabian Camel remarks on the plight of Iraqi women who, without the permits to work in Syria, turn to prostitution to make ends meet.
