United Nations Radio

United Nations agencies have urged authorities in Georgia and South Ossietia to open up two humanitarian corridors to allow civilians caught in the fighting to flee the area and also for aid workers to reach the wounded.

In Geneva, UNICEF's spokesman Gordon Alexander says access is especially important.

"From UNICEF's perspective, and from the UN system's perspective, it is one of access and establishing that humanitarian corridor as soon as possible irrespective what's happening on the conflict side. That access is the critical issue which we are most concerned with."

Alexander says UNICEF is working closely with other UN agencies on the ground. And while no direct request for assistance has as yet been received from the authorities, UN agencies are actively involved in making assessments and assessing requirements and playing a particularly important role in coordination of the donor/external response.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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