Adding Up the Costs of Georgia's 2008 Attack on South Ossetia

South Ossetia was estimated to be home for about 70,000 people prior to the Georgian attack in August 2008. Tens of thousands of people fled during the August conflict and many remain homeless in Abkhazia, Russia and Georgia. Much of Tskhinval, the capital and home for much of South Ossetia's remaining population, was destroyed during the five-day war. More than two dozen factories were destroyed or damaged, reducing economic output by 80%. Thousands of people remain in acute need.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

Housing

• 3,533 homes and apartments were fully or partially destroyed.

Schools

• Secondary Schools: Two of 12 secondary schools were destroyed, the rest were damaged.
• Pre-Schools: Eight of 19 pre-schools were destroyed, the rest were damaged.

Government Buildings

• Fifty-five administrative buildings were damaged throughout the Tskhinval region.
• The building containing the Parliament and the ministries of health, culture and education, the military prosecutors' office and other key government offices were destroyed.
• The building containing the president and prime minister's offices were severely damaged.

Utilities, Hospital and Other Major Buildings

• Water, gas and electricity companies were destroyed.
• Republican Hospital, the city's main medical facility, was shelled and severely damaged.
• The central department store, main bakery and all factories in the city's southwest were destroyed.
• The state television station was partially damaged.
• The major hotel in downtown Tskhinval was badly damaged.

Universities

• The State University of South Ossetia was destroyed.
• Scientific Research University was partially damaged.

Cultural Buildings

• The city's cinema and concert hall were destroyed.

Reconstruction Efforts

• So far, the State Commission on Reconstruction of the Republic has pledged 10 billion rubles to rebuild the country. 3.85 billion has been spent
• After conducting a thorough damage assessment, the commission has set up a plan for repairing all housing and key buildings, such as hospitals and schools.
• An $8 million ruble fund has been established to provide financial and technical aid to businesses damaged during the war. 450 businesses have applied for help.
• Fifteen factories have been established to produce asphalt, bricks, windows and concrete.
• The following reconstruction projects have been completed:
  • 261 municipal buildings and 364 private houses
  • 220 kilometers of road
  • Gas and electrical plants
  • Telephone company
  • State and municipal buildings
  • Purification plants and the water pipeline in Tskhinval

S. Ossetia, Five Days in August

A Chronology of the 2008 Georgia War Against South Ossetia. For more information, choose a version below:

• English Version
• German Version
• French Version
• Russian Version