Before it closed down on October 23, I went to visit what became known as the 'tent town of Gori' where 2,300 people who were unable to return to their villages stayed until they were able to return home or were placed into alternative accommodation.

From the moment I entered, things looked grim. People wrapped in blankets huddled together in their tents trying to overcome the cold. In a bid to lift morale and pass time, neighbours told each other stories while the rain tapped on the tarpaulin.

I wondered around a little to get a sense of the place. On my way, I met Iamze Nadiradze who is originally from the village of Niqosi. In spite of the rain, she was still outside her tent, washing her children's clothes. Until now, Iamze and her family stayed with her sister who lives in a city in the Kvemo Kartli region, south of Tbilisi, having fled the Russian occupation of their town.

She did not hesitate when I asked her why she was here. "I am a nurse at the children's republic hospital of Gori. When I heard that Gori had started to recover from this horror and terror I wanted to come back to work. I had heard that this tent town was built for people like me who cannot return home so I applied for a place for my family and got it."

Iamze told me that it is her responsibility to be in the hospital where her help is much needed in spite of the living conditions she now has to face in the tent town, "I am not happy to be living here; this environment is awful. We are cold and do not have the simple things we need for our everyday lives. It's not easy but I decided to come here and stay because many people need support from medical professionals like me."

Not only did Iamze treat patients in Gori hospital but also the residents of the tent town. Because her skills were much needed, people already knew her well and if anyone had a problem, they immediately came to her for advice.

Unlike most other people in the tent town, Iamze felt fortunate that at least she could make a living. "I accept life as it is. I do not have time to be depressed, and I want to live with the hope that I will soon go back home. I know that when we return, I will have to start life almost from scratch. My house still stands but it has been completely looted. I will have to slowly rebuild what we once had. I am however, in a better situation than most other people - I have a job, but what about those that have nothing?"

A moment later I met 65-year-old Darejani. She sat outside in the rain, wrapped in a blanket, soaked to the bone, staring blankly into space. Before I even introduced myself she told me: "I have nothing... I lost everything ... I do not know how to deal with these problems."

She says nothing more. I tried to comfort her with words but there was little I could say to lift her morale. She did not want to speak.

I wished Darejani well as I left. The words that I heard earlier from Iamze resonated in my head and I too wondered, 'What about those who have nothing'?

Oxfam International and its partner NGOs are currently assisting displaced people in Georgia who fled areas of conflict. Oxfam would be prepared to help any civilians affected by the conflict, whether they are in Georgia, South Ossetia or North Ossetia, if granted safe access to assess the situation and if assistance were needed. Russia has said it is managing relief operations in South and North Ossetia.

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