New York, Aug 18 (Xinhua) The United Nations has called on international donors to provide $58.6 million in aid to help victims affected by the recent conflict in Georgia.The funding will be used to meet the needs of almost 130,000 people in the region of conflict for the next six months, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement Monday

“I hope the international community will show itself fully ready, capable and willing to help provide critically-needed assistance to the people of Georgia,” said Catherine Bragg, UN assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

According to OCHA, donors have already pledged about $23 million towards the appeal, which will support the aid efforts of nine UN agencies and 16 nongovernmental and international organisations.

Food, health and nutrition, protection, shelter and non-food items, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene are among the most urgent needs for the victims of the conflict, which began over a week ago when heavy fighting broke out in South Ossetia between Georgian and South Ossetian forces.