Over the weekend, World Vision delivered food to more than 28,000 displaced persons in Tbilisi. Warehouse and distribution staff worked around the clock for two days to give food to many persons who were in desperate need, some of whom were in unlisted collection centres discovered by local government officials.

'I continue to be amazed and proud of the work that our staff is doing every day,' David Womble, National Director of World Vision Georgia, said. 'I remain confident that we will carry on with this dedication in the coming days, weeks, and months as we reach further into Georgia, helping as many people as we can.'

On Friday, August 29, World Vision began delivering World Food Programme (WFP) food baskets as part of its partnership agreement to be formalised soon. Previously, World Vision delivered supplementary food – pasta, buckwheat, canned meat, porridge, etc. – to the commodities WFP delivered – flour, sugar, vegetable oil, salt, etc.

WFP will continue to distribute flour to local bakeries that bake bread with the provided flour for displaced persons in their area; however, World Vision now delivers the rest of the WFP commodities. Pending funding, World Vision will also resume distribution of supplementary food.

Additionally, World Vision delivered six metric tons of fresh vegetables that were donated to CHF International by farmers from Marneuli, a town south of Tbilisi that was bombed during the conflict due to the presence of a military base. The farmers donated US$4,500 worth of fresh produce, including potatoes, onions, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Apart from continued food distribution, World Vision will also continue delivering non-food items, such as hygiene kits. This week, however, World Vision will place an emphasis on delivering more mattresses than normal as USAID donations of mattresses arrive.

To date, World Vision has delivered non-food items to more than 11,500 displaced persons and food to more than 50,000.

Moreover, World Vision Georgia will open its eighth office in Gori, to facilitate emergency, aid, and rehabilitation efforts in and around the city. Though information of the displaced, due to the mass movement of people, remains fluid, World Vision will have a significant presence in Gori as it does in Tbilisi and around the country.

World Vision will also begin assessments this week for the implementation of some 13 Child-Friendly Spaces.

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