CIDI Urges Public to Donate Cash to Help Georgian Refugees

    Money is the Best Form of Donation to Provide Effective and Immediate

Assistance



    ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 14 /EMWNews/ -- As the violence

between Russia and Georgia escalates into an international crisis, so does

the need for humanitarian aid to the tens of thousands of displaced

citizens of South Ossetia, the Moscow-backed breakaway region that has been

the center of conflict between the two warring nations.



    The Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) is urging all

those who wish to help to donate cash, as an alternative to in-kind gifts

and other commodities, to provide immediate and effective assistance to the

growing number of civilians that are being forced to flee their homes and

seek shelter in remote areas without electricity or water.



    According to a BBC report, some 100,000 people are estimated to have

been displaced by the conflict, which has created huge tensions within the

international relations arena as foreign aid experts struggle to find a

solution to this humanitarian disaster. Refugees have fled South Ossetia,

many of them seeking shelter in the Russian province of North Ossetia.

However, with Russian officials targeting Georgian communications and lines

of supply, the need for the fastest, most effective means of response

remains absolutely critical.



    "This is a terrible tragedy for all those involved, but the public can

help to ease the burden on the thousands of innocent civilians that remain

without shelter by donating cash, rather than in-kind donations, to a

reputable, on-site relief agency," said Suzanne Brooks, Director of CIDI.

"It is crucial that the local relief agencies have all the necessary

resources to best aid the people of Georgia. The fastest and best way to

provide this assistance is through cash donations."



    Individuals and organizations interested in making contributions to

help Georgian refugees can get more information by visiting CIDI's Web site

at http://www.cidi.org. Additionally, interested donors can visit

http://www.interaction.org to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for

international emergencies, and http://www.give.org to get valuable information on

making informed decisions when supporting charities.

    About CIDI



    CIDI is based in Arlington, Virginia, and was created in 1988. The

Center is funded by the United States Agency for International

Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. CIDI provides

individuals, groups, embassies and corporations with information and

guidance in support of appropriate international disaster relief efforts.

The organization works with a variety of partners to channel the public's

energy and desire to help to achieve maximum impact. By reaching out to the

American public and the private sector, CIDI helps to promote activities

and donations that will do the most good for disaster victims around the

world. For more information about CIDI and helping international victims,

please visit http://www.cidi.org.