GREAT PHOTOJOURNALISM

Great Photojournalism

Carsten Snejbjerg

What will happen tomorrow

Georgia aftermath part 2

On August 7, 2008, Georgian tanks entered Tskhinvali, capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russian forces moved in quickly to defend South Ossetia, but also continued moving into Georgian territory. The fighting officially ended on August 12 with a cease-fire, there were at least 1,000 dead and injured. Tens of thousands of refugees had fled their homes on both the Georgian and South Ossetian sides because of the fighting. In South Ossetia militia groups began looting and burning the houses of ethnic Georgians under cover of the Russians troops. Soon South Ossetia was cleaned for the ethnic Georgian population. These people now stays around in Georgia without possiblility to return to their homes.

Interior of a public school in Gori, Georgia, on Tuesday October 47, 2008. The school were damge under an russian airstrike. The russiansplane were attacing a communication pole, but drop some bombs in an recidential area near by. several houses were hit and this school were damaged.

From left, Shakro Godidze, Tsisana Godidze ( daughter ), Georgi Godidze, grandchild, photographed in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday October 18, 2008. The family went into the basement during bombings 7 of august. They fleed on the 8 of august. Shakro stayed in the house to protect. On the August 10, South Ossetians came, looted and burned the houses to the ground. Shakro was sent to prison where he stayed 10 days. During his stay in prison he was beaten. He now needs to walk with crutches. The family now stays downtown Tbilisi in a run down building.

Children and a grandfather taking refuge at the 12 kindergarten in Gori ,Georgia, on Thursday October 16, 2008. Many of these families have no possibility of returning to their houses. Around Tskhanvali there are 40 Georgian villages. They are all burnt to the ground as a part of ethnic cleaning of Georgians in South Ossetia.

Outside the 12 kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday, October 16, 2008.

Old publishing house in Tblisi, Georgia, on Saturdayday October 18, 2008.

The old military hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday October 22, 2008.

Interior of a destroyed building on military base in Gori, Georgia, on Friday October 17, 2008. This base was hit on Thursday August 9. 22 soldiers died at this attack. The bombings went on for app 15-20 min. 3 planes in the air ( MIG-24). The planes dropped some bombs before the base and a residential area.

Kalfina Askilashivil, age 56, photographed in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday October 22, 2008. She was living in a village 18 km north of Tskhinvali. She was forced out of her house by South Ossetians that were looting. The house was thereafter burned. Among the group of looters were Kalfina's own nephew ( his Ossetian policeman ). Kalfina is now staying in Tbilisi in an old building.

Interior of a public school in Gori, Georgia, on Tuesday October 47, 2008. The school were damge under an russian airstrike. The russiansplane were attacing a communication pole, but drop some bombs in an recidential area near by. several houses were hit and this school were damaged.

Boys playing outside the 12 kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

From left, Elene Khaduri, age 69 and Izo Mindiashvili, age 69, in the 12 kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday, October 16, 2008.
Both women have lost their house. Both of the women where begging the south ossetians not to burn their houses without luck. They were forced and beaten out of their houses. Animals and values were stolen. They had to walk from the village to other villages closer to Gori before they where picked up. They followed small path to stay away from the soldiers. They saw russian soldiers and ossetians militia groups with dogs on the way.

The old military hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday October 22, 2008.

People who have taken refuge inside a kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on wednesday, October 17, 2008. The 12th kindergarten is now used for refugees from the conflict zone.

Exterior of a burned building on military base in Gori, Georgia, on Friday October 17, 2008. This base was hit on Thursday August 9. 22 soldiers died in this attack. The bombings went on for app 15-20 min. 3 planes in the air ( MIG-24). The planes dropped some bombs before the base and a residential area.

People taking refuge in a kindergarten in Gori, Georgia on Thursday October 16, 2008. The 12th kindergarten is now used for refugees from the conflict zone. Julieta Golijashvili ( in the middle) gets bread. The refugees in the 12 kindergarten get food twice daily, and bread. Julieta and her family stayed in a house very close to the border to South Ossetia. They are to afraid to return.

Vera Terashvili, age 64 in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday October 22, 2008.
vera was living in a village 18 km north of Tskhinvali. her house was looted and burnt by south ossetians. They were wearing mask to cover themselfes, but Vera could still recognize them. She was forced of of her house and had to walk togehter with 24 other people for four days without food or water to get to the georgian side where they received help.

A man outside the 12 kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday October 16, 2008.

The old military hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday October 22, 2008.
The refugees is complaining to people from the goverment about their situation. ' We need food, money and warm clothes'. 'We only get spaghetti'.

Old publishing house in Tblisi, Georgia, on wednesday, October 17, 2008.

A women is hanging her laundry up to dry outside a kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday October 16, 2008. The 12th kindergarten is now used for refugees from the conflict zone.

Vaso Vakhtangashvili sleeping in the 12 kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on Tuesday, October 14, 2008.

Old publishing house in Tblisi, Georgia, on thursday, October 18, 2008. Just after the war the refugees found this place diserted and decided to move in. 1300 refuees where living here just after the war. Now 250-300 people in still living here. Most of them have no house to return to. Their houses have been burnt to the ground.

People who have taken refuge inside a kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday, October 16, 2008. The 12th kindergarten is now used for refugees from the conflict zone. Refugees receive food, two times a day.

Some people in front of their burnt house in the village of Karaleti, on Tuesday, October 14, 2008. The house is lying on the way to Tskhinvali and Gori.

Old publishing house in Tblisi, Georgia, on Sunday October 19, 2008. Just after the war 1300 people stayed at this place.

The old military hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday October 22, 2008.

Exterior of a burned building on military base in Gori, Georgia, on Friday October 17, 2008. This base was hit on tThursday August 9. 22 soldiers died in this attack. The bombings went on for app 15-20 min. 3 planes in the air ( MIG-24). The planes dropped some bombs before the base and hit a residential area.

The old military hospital in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Wednesday October 22, 2008.

Two men outside a recidential area in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday October 16, 2008.

A child wearing a mask outside a kindergarten in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday October 16, 2008. The 12th kindergarten is now used for refugees from the conflict zone. Mika, age 9 in front of the kindergarten.

The road to Tskhinvali and south ossetia, Georgia, on Tuesday, October 14, 2008.