TALLINN, Oct 10, BNS - Georgian displaced persons and experts who worked with them named Estonia among countries that gave them the biggest material and political support, it appears from the sociologicial study carried out by the Open Estonia Foundation.
The displaced persons and specialists working in Georgia mentioned the United States as the biggest supporter, followed by France and Ukraine. Estonia was mentioned as the fourth biggest supporter, with the three Baltic countries in the fifth place.
"Material aid was not the only decisive factor," said sociologist Iris Pettai who carried out the poll. "In case of Estonia, for example, the president's visit to Tbilisi was underlined and the night song festival in Tallinn where support was expressed to Georgia was mentioned in case of Estonia."
Sociologists Iris Pettai and Helve Kase made 101 interviews with displaced persons and 206 with doctors, psychologists, social workers, public servants, teachers and youth workers in Georgia in September. Among other things the poll established shortcomings of the relief system so far and what kind o f assistance Estoniaa could give to the DPs in the future.
In terms of material relief Estonia allocated 10 million kroons (EUR 640,000) from the government reserve fund on August 14. On August 12, Estonia sent to Georgia rescue and medical equipment, equipment for ambulance cars, thermal linen, beds and blankets, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry told BNS. On August 23 Estonia sent to Georgia blankets, pillows, medical equipment, food, diapers, disinfectants as well as toys, drawing supplies and children's clothes collected as donations.
The third consignment of relief for the displaced persons is now being prepared.
The government channeled one million kroons via UNICEF for the assistance of children of Southern Ossetia who suffered in the hostilities. The cost of four crisis psychologists who have worked at UNICEF in Tbilisi will be covered from the reserve fund, the costs of the mine clearance specialists dispatched from Estonia as well as the costs of two Estonians taking part in the European Union observation mission and on Estonian in the OSCE observation mission.
According to OSCE there were 127,000 displaced persons in Georgia when the hostilities ended on August 23.
(EUR 1 = EEK 15.65)
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