“What a Monster Government!” – IDPs Packing their Bags

Shorena Latatia

The IDPs living in #185 school in Varketili 4th micro block were evicted on January 24th morning. Human Rights Center visited and studied their problems a day before.

“Thanks God they are not kicking us out from Georgia!..” ,,we are driven crazy…” ,,what a monster government!’’ “Where can we go? We do not have anywhere to go!” – many other similar words were heard and the sorrow, desperation and distrust reflected on the faces of IDPs.

“You know that there is no point in opposing?! They will not listen to anyone. Tomorrow morning police will come and evict us all. You will not be able to help us no matter how much you want it,” – told us one of the IDPs and started packing their bags.

An IDP from Abkhazia, mother of two children Tsitsino Khocholava skeptically estimates her situation: “I have been living under rent for 16 years. I moved here 2 years ago and they are kicking me out. Do I have to pour oil and burn myself?! But it seems like even this will not hurt Ministry’s feelings. I know that I am talking in vain, you will still not be able to help me, but I just need to talk.”

An IDP from Abkhazia Murman Aprosidze has been living with his mother in #185 school for two years now. “I have not started packing my bags yet and I am not going to. Does it matter?! I still have nowhere to go,” – stated Aprosidze and added that will have to transfer to Gali region in the worst scenario.

Doli Pirveli, mother of the IDP from Abkhazia Gocha Gulbani was also in a severe state. She was prescribed form 100 several days ago and told that her transportation is categorically prohibited. However, the Ministry of IDPs and Accommodation solved this problem easily.

“I was told in the Ministry to go to Potskhoetseri. What can I tell them after such a response?! We tried to rent an apartment, but could not find anything less than 300 GEL. My salary is just 400 GEL. My mother needs 200 GEL a month alone on the medicaments,” – stated Gocha Gulbani.

In case of eviction, Marina Egruselashvili who is expecting her second child might also fall in trouble: “My child is ill with heart disease and needs systematic medical treatment. I am a teacher and in case of eviction from Tbilisi I will lose my job and a chance to get medical treatment for my child. Why do not they accommodate us in the suburbs of Tbilisi? In this case I will be able to go to work and bring my child to doctor,” – stated Egruselashvili and added that the IDPs never before needed help as bad as now.

The day before eviction an IDP from Abkhazia Soso Jojua was thinking about the bank debts that he will have to pay in case of eviction: “I work as a craftsman in Tbilisi and have small income. Whatever you see here was bought under postponement and debts. In case of removing to region I have no idea how to pay my debts. But if I do not go there, I do not know where to stay here. The Ministry is not giving any other chance – either we go there and starve to death or stay here on the streets.”