Salome Achba
An IDP from Abkhazia Madona Vekua lived in the building for compact settlement in Tbilisi. Two months ago, she was internally displaced once more – the ministry of the IDPs from the occupied territories, refugees and accommodation resettled her from the former building of the Russian military base to Potskhoetseri settlement in Samegrelo region. Madona Vekua complains about her health. There are no conditions to take medical treatment in Potskhoetseri. There is not even a hospital there.
Potskhoetseri is several kilometers away from Zugdidi. The buildings for the IDPs from Tbilisi were built for the workers at the construction of the Enguri Hydro Electro Station during the soviet time. The government recently renovated the buildings and created more or less normal living conditions there. However, it is not enough for the IDPs. Because of the hard climate the soil is not fertile in Potskhoetseri. There is no enterprise or service centers in the settlement. The IDPs resettled from Tbilisi remained unemployed and their only income is the monthly allowance of 22 GEL.
Humanrights.ge published an article about the problems of the IDPs in Potskhoetseri a month ago too (see http://www.humanrights.ge/index.php?a=main&pid=12205&lang=eng ) Madona Vekua told us about the problems which became urgent after their settlement.
“Initially, Red Cross assisted us and supplied us with food. Nowadays, we have nothing left and I do not know how to feed my children,” said Madona Vekua.
She worked at Eliava bazroba (public market) and her son worked on the construction in Tbilisi. They earned their living in this way. There are two under-age children and pregnant daughter-in-law in their family. After resettlement in Potskhoetseri they automatically lost their jobs and remained without income.
There is no medical center in Potskhoetseri. Madona Vekua has cancer on her womb and needs permanent medical treatment for what she will have to travel to Zugdidi. Of course, it is difficult for a woman with such a serious disease to travel to Zugdidi each time.
Besides IDPs, 500 local residents and old IDPs live in Potskhoetseri. Madona Vekua said their conditions are a bit better because they own plots in Gali district; so they sell nuts, have cattle and do not starve. But we have nothing except accommodations,” said Madona Vekua.
12 IDP families had to start their lives from the very beginning second time. The new settlers request an accommodation near Tbilisi or compensation instead it. “We were somehow occupied in Tbilisi and could keep our families. We do not know what to do in Potskhoetseri and how to earn our living.”
The authority did not offer them anything else instead resettlement to Potskhoetseri. “They said we should either go to Potskhoetseri or rent a flat in Tbilisi. We could not pay the rent and so we had no way out. We were afraid not to lose these accommodations too and arrived here.”
The IDPs petitioned to the ministry several times and requested alternative accommodation or compensation. However, the ministry has not taken any measures to improve their situation.
Article 4 Part II of the Law of Georgia on Internally Displaced People states that IDPs can be resettled from their accommodation only if the new accommodation improves their living conditions. The IDPs settled in Potskhoetseri state their conditions worsened.
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