Human Rights Official In Georgia To Assess Plight Of Internally Displaced

Walter Kalin

A top official from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is due to arrive in Georgia today on a four-day mission to assess the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the conflict-affected areas.

Walter Kalin, the representative of the secretary-general, is the latest name on a growing list of international envoys to visit that country for a firsthand look at the humanitarian situation in the wake of the Russian-Georgian fighting.

The OHCHR says Kalin "will engage with a wide range of actors" that includes government officials, civil society and international organizations, and internally displaced persons.

After launching his trip in Tbilisi, Kalin hopes to visit the Gori area of central Georgia. The OHCHR adds that Kalin "hopes to be able to also visit Tskhinvali and surrounding conflict-affected areas in the near future."

He is expected to produce "concrete recommendations" for the UN's Human Rights Council to address the problems of IDPs in Georgia.