Saltar al contenido principal

OCHA-Georgia Information Bulletin for the period 01-15 Nov 2002

Países
Georgia
Fuentes
OCHA
Fecha de publicación

Feature:
Canadian Feed the Children Assists Earthquake-affected Population

On 25 April 2002, an earthquake damaged a number of buildings in Tbilisi, including schools, kindergartens and IDP collective centers in various districts of the city. The Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation compiled a list of the affected buildings in order to include them in assistance programmes.

One of the damaged IDP collective centers is located in Gldani VI micro-district, in the building of former kindergarten # 102. Twenty-eight families live in the building. They are mainly from Sukhumi and settled there after their displacement from Abkhazia in 1992. The inhabitants try to keep their building and its patio as clean and tidy as possible with their own resources, try not to cut trees for use it as wood, and try to have small vegetable gardens with some greens, maize, vegetables, and breed some poultry. However some things are difficult to manage on their own without external assistance.

The earthquake seriously damaged the roof of the building. In addition to the leaking roof, the building's water and sanitation system was useless and window glasses were missing or broken in some rooms.

With financial assistance from the Canadian Feed the Children (CFC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the IDP women's association "Tanxmoba" decided to rehabilitate the building, as long as the available funding would cover some other needs of the center. Canadian Feed the Children usually does not provide money for emergency rehabilitation activities unless the organisation is already involved in some other activity in the region. Since 2000, the organisation works to develop NGOs focusing on children issues in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Initially the IDPs were not hopeful, as they say they have had many promises but no actual assistance. However, the rehabilitation activities took about one month and a half. Constructors restored the roof, water sanitation system and windows with a 5-year guarantee.

IDPs living in the center were happy and expressed their gratitude towards those who participated in the rehabilitation programme. However, they still face additional problems such as unemployment and no immediate hope of return. They complained that while searching for a job, they are often rejected because of being over 30-35 years old. This affects women in particular, however, this problem does not only affect IDPs.

In September, through its partner organisation Tanxmoba, CFD also assisted school #81 also affected by the earthqake in Tbilisi. The IDP Women Association "Tanxmoba" identified a construction brigade and monitored activities.

For more information, please contact Ms. Julia Kharashvili at (8 99) 57 07 98. E-mail: idpwa@gol.ge

A New Programme for Social-Economic Development of Samegrelo and Svaneti Regions

According to a special decree of the President of Georgia, a new programme for social-economic development of Samegrelo and Svaneti regions is launched by the Government of Georgia (GoG). The programme timeframe is 2002-2005 years.

The programme envisages number of development activities including the promotion of local industry, small business, rehabilitation/construction of highways, bridges, the Anaklia port, the Poti airport. Activities also include the development of agriculture sector in the regions by facilitating the bee breeding and cattle breeding activities, as well as implementing drainage and melioration activities. The programme targets various sectors such as energy, healthcare, and education. Under the education sector it is anticipated to rehabilitate and equip school buildings, in the healthcare sector - to rehabilitate medical facilities and to provide the vulnerable population with free medical checkup. Measures will be taken to avoid affects of heavy rains and flooding in the future. For this purpose an anti-flood hydro-technical buildings will be constructed in number of districts (Zugdidi, Chkhorotsku, Khobi, Senaki, Abasha and Martvili).

For more information about the programme, please contact Mr. Lado Jgarkava, State Chancellery. Tel.: 99 89 84.

Sectors

Assistance to the Vulnerable

During September and October 2002, the "SOCO" foundation and distributed 1,780 school textbooks, 21 maps, 20 globes, 30 soccer and basketball balls to seven schools in various regions of Georgia (two in Shuaxevi and two in Khulo districts in Ajara, as well as in Samegrelo, Imereti and Svaneti regions).

In addition, in late October, SOCO Foundation together with the Aids and Clinical Immunology Center, conducted two seminars on HIV/AIDS in Poti for oil terminal staff and border guards. The effort was funded by a Dutch sponsor, Capucijnne Den Bosch. For more information, please contact Ms. Zeinab Beriashvili, Project and Administrative Assistant, SOCO Foundation, Tel/fax: 33 26 95, e-mail: soco@gol.ge

Security

On 3 November, there was an attempt of a carjacking of a NIVA vehicle belonging to an international NGO based in Kutaisi, western Georgia.

On 4 November, another international NGO's NIVA was stolen at a gunpoint from the driver's residence. A warehouse belonging to the same NGO was also robbed in Kutaisi on 5 November.

Transportation

A new flight is launched to Mestia District, Svaneti. The flight is implemented once a week depending on a weather conditions in Svaneti. However it is planned to have two flights per week in the future.

For more information about the schedule, please contact the Airport information service at: 94 75 12.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counterpart International Tbilisi's office moved to a new location. The new address is: 15A, Razmadze Street, 380079; Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel:(995 32) 77 96 69 Fax: (995 32) 22 29 43 E-mail: chap@counterpart.ge

Produced by OCHA Georgia.

For more information, please contact Ms. Maka Esaiashvili, Information Officer
Tel/Fax: 995-32-959516; Tel: 995-32-943163; e-mail: unocha@unocha.org.ge

Contributions are welcome and should reach OCHA, 9 Eristavi St., Tbilisi by 12.00 hrs. on 9th 19th, and 29th of each month

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.