Over 17,000 refugees from South Ossetia registered in the SFD

In the south of Russia, over 17,000 refugees from South Ossetia have been officially registered, as reports the Federal Operative Staff for liquidating the consequences of the armed conflict in South Ossetia.

"The subjects of the Southern Federal District (SFD) have officially registered 17,007 persons. The majority of them - 15,256 persons - are in North Ossetia," a Staff source said. Refugees from South Ossetia have also been accommodated in the Rostov Region, Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachaevo-Circassia.

According to the Staff, in all Russian southern regions temporary accommodation centres have been deployed capable to accept 8,257 persons. Refugees will be provided with meals and temporary dwelling facilities, the ITAR-TASS reports.

Ron Redmond, an official representative of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has reported that about 100,000 persons were forced to leave their homes as a result of the conflict around South Ossetia. The figure was given to the UNHCR by the authorities of Russia and Georgia.

According to the official data, now, about 30,000 residents of South Ossetia are staying in the territory of the Russian Federation. About 12,000 more need help in South Ossetia.