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South Ossetia conflict displaces over 118,000

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Over 118,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Georgia due to the recent conflict over breakaway South Ossetia, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said on Friday.
GENEVA, August 15 (RIA Novosti) - Over 118,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Georgia due to the recent conflict over breakaway South Ossetia, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said on Friday.

"The latest estimates of displacement related to the conflict now total more than 118,000, based on figures provided by the governments," said spokesman Ron Redmond.

About 30,000 South Ossetians fled to Russia, while another 15,000 residents of the rebel republic left for Georgia's proper, Redmond said.

Outside of South Ossetia, another 73,000 people have been displaced in the rest of Georgia, including most of the population of the town of Gori, near the South Ossetian border, the official added.

Around 1,600 civilians and 18 peacekeepers were killed during the Georgian assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, on August 8, according to Russian figures. The town was largely destroyed.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch group has accused both Russia and Georgia of killing civilians "through indiscriminate attacks" during the conflict.

Russia's top military official denied on Friday claims by the organization that Moscow had used cluster bombs in the conflict with Georgia.

The UN refugee agency delivered 66 tons of relief supplies to Tbilisi on Friday, the official said, adding that a total of 100 tons of humanitarian aid would be dispatched to the Georgian capital this week.

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