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IDPs Asking for Help

October 27, 2010
Inga Gvasalia, Samegrelo

In Khobi, at #12 Sakhoia St, eight families of IDPs from Abkhazia live in the building of “Sharagzamsheni 1.” It needs repair; roof is damaged, water is leaking in the rooms, walls are crannied and damp. IDPs can’t renovate the roof because of the lack of finances. Winter is anticipated with a great fear. They are asking for elementary attention from the local government.

“Nobody pays attention to us for years now. Nobody takes care of us. We learned by chance that this building was transferred to someone’s private ownership. We have no water and toilet here,” - stated the IDP from Gali region Leila Soselia. Her husband has heart issues and finds hard to live in the damp room. Every family has three rooms in the building, where the bedroom, kitchen and hall are located.

We were interested in the fate of IDPs and contacted the owner of the building. As it was found out, the building of LLC “Sharagzamsheni 1” has been the ownership of Givi Shengelia, the founder of the organization. He purchased it in auction. As he explained, the auction was held in order to fill the budget deficit of that time.

“I don’t remember the amount of money exactly, but can tell you that everything was legal. I found out that the building was being sold out and purchased it. I’m humane and the state of IDPs bothers me very much. I don’t have anything against them living there. I conscientiously pay land and property taxes. In future, if I need this place for some business, the IDPs will probably have to leave the building, but before that I hope the local government will transfer them somewhere else,” – stated Shengelia.

We also contacted the head of Khobi Department of Refugees and Accommodation Shorena Dzadzamia. As she stated they can’t decide on anything on the spot and this issue belong to the prerogative of Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation. On the question whether these families will be given alternative residence places in future, Dzadzamia stated: “The process of rehabilitation has been started. We already freed the buildings of kindergartens and musical schools as the academic year was starting and we transferred the IDPs to other places. In future the renovation of several objects is being planned and we are going to transfer the rest of the families there, but the exact time is not known yet.”

As it was found out, the fate of IDPs from the building “Sharagzamsheni 1” is uncertain and there is not a big chance of improving their living conditions in the nearest future. IDPs contacted the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation numerous times but with no result. The final request was filed to the Ministry on April 19th but no response was received. The request describes the intolerable condition of IDPs in detail and asks for the improvement of living conditions.

During this year only five metal plastic windows have been constructed in the building. It was the owner of the building who did it by his own expenses. Georgian government promises provision of all IDPs with the residence places. Hopefully, the residence places will be provided for these eight IDPs in the nearest future.

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