Following the recent outbreak of fighting in Georgia, in the eastern European Caucasus region near the Black Sea, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is preparing to respond to the needs of thousands who fled from the violence. More than 2,000 people have died in the first week of fighting and nearly 100,000 have been displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The latest conflict, centered in the South Ossetia region and involving troops from the countries of Georgia and Russia, caused widespread destruction as a result of air strikes and shelling.

“The situation on the ground is deteriorating, sparking a significant movement of population,” said Elisabeth Byrs of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

ADRA is coordinating relief efforts with UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations to address the current emergency situation. ADRA will also work to provide medical assistance in Tbilisi, where a rapid influx of displaced persons fleeing the fighting has strained the city’s food supply, medical, and shelter capacities.

Of the approximately 56,000 displaced persons currently inside Georgia more than 40,000 are from Gori, according to the U.N. An additional 12,000 are from South Ossetia, and 30,000 others have crossed into Russia’s North Ossetia region.

For more information, visit www.adra.org.