After August events in South Ossetia, hundreds of locals and refugees continue living in ruined and dilapidated houses

Today, six years after the outbreak of the warfare in South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, the capital, is gradually erasing the scars of war. According to the local Ministry of Construction, over 400 new houses have been built since, and over 800 were repaired. Some of the locals, who lost their homes, received flats in new micro-districts. However, until now, in Tskhinvali, some residents are living in ruined houses; and the problem of refugee is still painful.

According to the above Ministry, in total, in 2008, 3345 households were completely or totally destroyed.

The house of Ivan Alborov, one of the veterans, destroyed by a direct shell hit, is still non-restored.

Family members have repeatedly submitted applications to the committee on rehabilitation programme, asking to rebuild the house, but it was not done, Marina Kozaeva, a granddaughter of the veteran, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Refugees from Georgia live in collective centres in the outskirts of Tskhinvali.

The hostel "Zagotzerno" shelters 16 families – 31 persons. Unlike the rest of Tskhinvali, they have no natural gas. All the 16 families have to use one toilet and one bathroom.

"For several years we live in intolerable conditions and with poor sanitation. We have only cold water; and it is in the yard," a female refugee from Georgia told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent

The hostel tenants said that they receive no help, except for food parcels from the Red Cross.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.