SGA Update

UN: 158,000 Flee Homes in South Ossetia/Georgia Crisis

SGA-Partner Churches Ministering to the Refugees

Since fighting broke out August 7 between Russia, Georgia, and Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia, the number of refugees fleeing the fighting has reached about 158,000 according to the United Nations. In addition, all sides in the short, but intense conflict appear to be backing away from the initial death toll announced. Today, the number of people killed may well be in the hundreds rather than the 2,000 initially reported.

As of Friday, August 22, 2008, Russian military convoys rolled out of three key positions in Georgia and headed toward Moscow-backed separatist regions of the country in a significant withdrawal of forces. There has been intense diplomatic pressure on Russia to withdraw from Georgia since they invaded the country in response to Georgia’s offensive to retake South Ossetia. Russian president Dmitri Medvedev had promised to have the troops out of Georgia by today, however a top Russian general later said it could take up to ten days before the bulk of Russian troops and hardware could be withdrawn. Under a peace deal brokered by the European Union, Russian forces were to pull back to positions they held before the fighting broke out. However, Russia says it will keep troops in South Ossetia and in a buffer zone in Georgia proper.

In the meantime, the Bible-preaching churches SGA serves are continuing in their efforts to minister to the refugees that have flooded into Russian border regions, including Beslan in North Ossetia, Nalchik in Kabardino-Balkaria, and in Rostov and Azov in the Rostov Oblast. SGA partners have been generously responding with funds to help the churches reach out to the refugees with humanitarian aid, Bibles, New Testaments and Christian literature, and above all, the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you would like to contribute to the relief effort in South Ossetia, you can do so by clicking here.