The appeal is intended to ensure adequate surgical and other medical care for the wounded as well as emergency aid for people displaced in North Ossetia and Georgia, and civilians remaining in South Ossetia. This includes drinking water for residents of Tskhinvali.

The ICRC is also continuing to seek access to all people captured or arrested in connection with the conflict. Earlier today it visited two Russian pilots who were wounded and are being held by the Georgian authorities.

An ICRC surgical team is due to arrive in Georgia on 12 August to reinforce local surgical staff, in particular those working at Gori's civilian hospital. The Norwegian Red Cross is sending a field hospital to help treat people who have been wounded in Georgia, including, if possible, in Tskhinvali.

"Over the past few days the ICRC has been able to visit hospitals in Alaguir, Ardon and Vladikavkaz, in the Russian Federation, and in Gori, Poti and Senaki in Georgia," said Dominik Stillhart, the organization's deputy director of operations. "It's still too early to say how many people have been killed or injured by the fighting, but our visits to these hospitals confirm that local medical facilities are dealing with a large number of wounded and dead."

Another top priority for the ICRC is to deliver relief to people who have been displaced or isolated by the conflict. As soon as possible, the ICRC hopes to provide essential items such as blankets, hygiene materials and cooking pots, as well as to restore access to drinking water for people living in Tskhinvali. The organization also intends to provide emergency assistance to people who have fled South Ossetia.

In the northern Caucasus, the ICRC is working with the North Ossetia branch of the Russian Red Cross and is coordinating with the authorities and other humanitarian organizations to provide emergency aid for families who have fled the fighting. This includes hygiene materials and special items for children.

The ICRC currently has a delegation in Tbilisi, an office in the western Georgian city of Zugdidi, and a small team in Gori. In the northern Caucasus, the ICRC has a sub-delegation in Nalchik and offices in Khassaviurt, Grozny, Nazran and Vladikavkaz.