Children from an orphanage that was destroyed in South Ossetia have arrived in Moscow as they try to escape the aftermath of the horrors of war. Authorities in the Russian capital have decided to take care of the children until the breakaway republic's ca

The orphans have found a haven in Russia’s capital where they got a warm welcome and were greeted by a sea of cameras and microphones.

They are victims of the five day conflict whose orphanage in Tskhinvali was destroyed in the fighting, as was nearly 70 per cent of the capital.

Recalling the torment of being under siege, one girl said: “We went down to the basement and quietly waited there. We had a three-month-old baby with us. Her name was Olesya, she was scared too.”

The children were among almost 30,000 people who fled across the border to the province of North Ossetia, seeking refuge and safety.

Moscow authorities organised an evacuation plan and a new home.

Director of the Russian Children’s Fund, Albert Likhanov, said: “There were 160 kids in Tskhinvali’s boarding school, of which 112 children are orphans. There is a lot of work underway in the region, primarily, the start of a Children’s Fund in North Ossetia, which will continue searching for all the kids and bring them here.”

10 children have arrived so far, and they will be joined by around 50 more in the next few days. All will receive full medical attention and be constantly observed to monitor their physical and psychological state.