Abkhazia to host 54 children from Russian fire-hit regions.

SUKHUM, Abkhazia, August 11 (Itar-Tass) - Abkhazia will host the first
group of children from Russia's fire-stricken regions on August 13.
Fifty-four schoolchildren will vacation at the Black Sea resort of
Pitsunda for two weeks. Abkhazia is waiting for more groups to come, said
Daur Tarba, the vice-premier of Abkhazia. He is heading a special
commission set up by Prime Minister Sergei Shamba. The commission consists
of the ministers of education and public health, the administration heads
of the Gagra and Ochamchira regions and representatives of the Interior
Ministry and the State Committees for Resorts and Tourism and for the
Affairs of Youth and Sport.
"We will do our best to ensure that children from the fire-stricken
areas have a good rest on the seaside and bring home nice memories," Tarba
said. He added that special attention would be paid to matters of security
and health.
In addition to that, children will have a chance to go on excursions
and participate in numerous entertainment programs.
All the expenses will be covered from the republican budget.
Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh told Russian Vice-Premier Igor
Shuvalov during his recent visit to Abkhazia that the republic was ready
to receive up to a thousand children from the fire-devastated areas.
Abkhazia was not the only one to offer help to Russia. The Crimean
authorities have also invited children from Russia's fire-stricken regions
to come and have rest in the Crimea.
"Crimean health improvement centers are ready to receive 300 children
a month," Crimea's Prime Minister Vasily Dzharty said.
The Council of Ministers of the Crimean Autonomous Republic passed a
relevant decision on Tuesday. It is discussing the matter with the Crimean
Ministry of Public Health and is trying to find funds in the local budget.
"The Crimea cannot be indifferent when such a big trouble has hit
Russia," Vasily Dzharty emphasized.
A day earlier, on Monday, the administration of the Odessa region
invited thousands of young Russians from fire-devastated areas of Russia
to have a vacation in recreation camps near Odessa. It will cover all the
expenses of the children's stay in the Odessa region.
The list of recreation camps that can receive the children from the
fire-stricken areas will be sent to Kiev to coordinate the schedule of
their arrival. Almost all Black Sea camps are willing to accommodate
children from Russia. But not all of them can do that in August. For
example, the Young Guard camp in Odessa, the biggest recreation center in
Ukraine, is now full to capacity. It will be able to receive Russian
children only in September.