An IDP Family’s Story

An IDP Family’s Story

Twenty-year-old Shorena Chabrava, disabled from birth, was left out in the street after an eviction of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from ‘Hotel Meskheti’. Despite the fact that the Chabravas had a family identification number, they were not given the reimbursement money destined for refugees.

Shorena Chabrava has been severely disabled since birth - she has Cerebral Palsy in her limbs. She has only half a rib cage and is nourished with only porridge and water. “At her birth we were advised to leave her, but we could not do it,” says Shorena’s grandmother, Guli Danelia.

Shorena has been prevented from receiving her IDP allowance. The reason for this is unknown to the family. “Shorena has not been on the list since February. Neither is little four-month-old Zaza enrolled on the list (Zaza is Shorena’s nephew), although he has a birth certificate. Nobody gives us any explanation,” states the grandmother. 

The Chabravas have not received their eviction compensation money either. “Jambul Chabrava - Shorena’s father has a second family as well. He has been married to Darejan Gorozia, without any registration, for ten years. Gorozia was also an IDP. We had separate family identification numbers, but the flat was shared. That’s why we lived together with the parents of our daughter-in-law nearby. Sometimes I used to take Shorena to my parents in Photi, because it was difficult to take care of her here. Darejan Gorozia made a fraudulent document, as if we did not live there, though we have a separate family number (#1014). Gorozia received the reimbursement money, but we were not given any,” pointed out Shorena’s mother, Madona Danelia.

The family applied to several bodies to resolve the situation: “We have met Aleko Shvelidze, Deputy Healthcare Minister of Adjara. He said the lists were issued from Tbilisi and that they could not do anything. We applied to Kakha Guchmanidze, Head of Adjara Refugees and Placement Department too, then we sent an application to the Georgian Ministry of Refugees and Placement, but no reply has yet been received.

The Chabravas do not intend to leave ‘Hotel Meskheti’ without their reimbursement. “I would not take Shorena from here. If she is not given the money owed to her, I will pour oil first on her, then myself and set us both on fire.”

The grandmother actually tried to immolate herself and her granddaughter. On the 28th of June, the Chabravas took Shorena in front of the Ministerial Council building. They demanded to meet Mamuka Nakashidze, Minister of Labor, Healthcare and Social Welfare of Adjara. The Minister did not meet them, but the Deputy Minister, Aleko Shvelidze, reminded them once more that they had no right to be given the reimbursement. As a result of this, Guli Danelia poured oil first on her granddaughter, then herself and tried to set them both on fire. The criminal police, mobilized in front of the Ministerial Council, did not let them go through with it.

After that, they returned to ‘Hotel Meskheti’. The next day, the 29th of June, after the eviction of the refugees from the hotel, they remained out in the street. Shorena Chabrava’s face became badly sunburned, as she had not been accustomed to the sun rays. “We had to accept the offer of the Ministry - to find shelter in the psychiatric hospital. They promised they would find something for us, after we moved to the hospital. But ten days have passed already. Finally we came back here in front of the Hotel Meskheti again and we shall stay here until we receive what is owed to us,” said Shorena Chabrava’s mother, Madona Danelia.

Kakha Guchmanidze, Head of the Refuges and Placement Department and representatives of the Adjara Labor, Healthcare and Social Welfare Ministry refuse to comment on the Chabravas’ problem.

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi