Convent throws open doors to South Ossetian refugees
Published 17 August, 2008, 22:32
More than 37,000 refugees have fled the Georgian conflict zone and applied for temporary accommodation in Russia. Food and medical help is being given to all of them in North Ossetia. One place which has thrown open its doors is a convent which helped victims of the Beslan siege.
The Alanian convent first created the children’s rehabilitation centre in the wake of the Beslan tragedy in September 2004. Now South Ossetian families are feeling its generosity.
The convent’s Mother Superior rescued a muslim family from the conflict zone, after taking water to victims in Tskhinvali.
“The sisters in the monastery have many relatives in South Ossetia because the border between the republics is for politicians, for the people there's no such divide. It has never existed. For us it has always been one Ossetia and one nation,” Nonna, the Mother Superior said.
Lolita, who has ten children, managed to escape the bombardment with seven of her children as well as her son who can't walk.
“Their tanks approached our village. Our village is right on the highway that connects South and North Ossetia. They spoke to each other as they drove their tanks. They lit fires on our houses. Also there were four policemen posted next to our house. But how could they defend against tanks with their rifles. Georgians killed them straight away,” refugee Lolita Kabizova said.
The convent has received almost 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid which has been distributed among the families there. A group of doctors, as well as psychologists are working with them. So far, 15 children have been christened.
Almost all the families there say they will return to their native region.
“We have been offered different cities to move to, Volgograd, Astrakhan etc. Thanks to all of them, but I will return to my home. Everyone to whom I spoke wants to return to where they came from,” refugee Irina Karkusova said.
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