United Nations Association of Georgia
Consolidated report
on IDP settlement issue
UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
2 Dolidze St., Tbilisi 380015, Georgia Tel: (+995 32) 332516, Fax: (+ 995 32) 335216 E-mail: una@caucasus.net http://www.una.org.ge
The United Nations Association of Georgia initiated a national study of settlement issue among Internally Displaced Persons employing its network of regional contact persons and representations in Shida Kartli, Imereti, Samegrelo and Ajara. Two main directions were looked at: 1) Situation with housing: a) Distribution b) Trends c) Problems. 2) Programs being implemented in the field of IDP settlement. This study has employed official statistics for the first half of the Year 2000. It has to be noticed that basic situation and trends in each region is more or less similar and demonstrates common approach and concern throughout the entire country.
Current housing situation among IDPs According to official data, in Imereti there are 29,360 IDPs in total (30% less than in 1998) 12,776 (or 43.5%) out of which
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United Nations Association of Georgia
live in private sector mainly with relatives or friend with only 2-3% owing a house. Remaining 16,584 (or 56.5%) IDPs are settled in places provided by the government. In Shida Kartli region these numbers are 4576 (or 71%) out of 6454 settled in private sector with remaining 1878 (or 29%) placed in public housing. For Ajara the respective figures stand at 1897 (or 24%) in private and 5978 (or 76%) in public sector out of 7875 IDPs in total. In both last cases about 5-7% of IDPs have own houses though tend not to declare this fact fearing loss of benefits. Renting is most common in Ajara, where 70% of IDPs settled in private sector pay for the housing themselves. Both private and public places of settlement have their positive and negative sides, strengths and deficiencies. It is common fact that in private sector standard of living is higher than in public sector with better water supply, hygiene, sewage systems, and socialization. At the same time, it is embarrassing and impossible to stay at one's place for a long time. Apart of this, frequently benefits for IDPs are distributed on to those living in centers organized by the government and those IDPs living in private sector do not receive them. Also, these IDPs living in private houses have to pay for electricity, water, garbage collection and other public services while they are free for those living in official compounds. Therefore, IDPs settled in houses of friends or relatives seek possibilities to move to public settlements (around 15% of those living in private sector). Most successful ones in yearning income tend to rent or even buy a house or apartment, though still try to maintain connection with official settlements for retaining IDP status and benefits related to it. All this does not mean that public compounds are better. On the contrary, terrible hygienic situation, water shortages, overcrowded rooms , buildings in poor conditions are common features of such centers. Children grow and get into marriage and they need more space, or even separate housing. Apart of this, as it was mentioned above, there are many IDP families wishing to get public housing while it is getting extremely difficult, almost impossible for government to find new compounds for such settlements. IDP Settlement Programs It has to be noticed that after the initial settlement of IDPs in 1992/1993 years, little has been done to improve their living conditions. Though, this does not mean that nothing was
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United Nations Association of Georgia
done in this direction. All four regions have identified at least some activity. In Ajara NRC has performed maintenance work in buildings settled by IDPs in 1998. In Imereti government have launched a program of building cottage houses for IDPs. 5 have been built, though program has been stopped because of lack of funding. Also, UNHCR has built 32 cottages in which 150 IDPs are housed. These cottages are in a very poor condition for the date and this fact was taken into attention of NRC office in Kutaisi by the regional affiliation of UNA-Georgia. In result of this NRC will perform maintenance of these buildings in the nearest future. In Samegrelo region only IRC works on settlement problems. It provides assistance in maintenance work, rebuilding old houses or building new ones to IDPs who do not plan to return in Abkhazia due to their participation in war activities or other reasons and intend to settle down in the region for good. Currently, 9 new houses are being built and 11 old ones - repaired. In Shida Kartli region UNHCR conducts program for assistance in repairing houses burnt or otherwise damaged in the war. If house is small, it is repaired completely. If it is big, then limited amount construction materials (maximum 80 m2 of roof and 40 m2 of floor materials) are provided for partial reconstruction. 1250 IDPs and refugees have been recipients of such assistance up to now. 60% out of this figure were Osetians and 40% - Georgians. Currently, 30 houses are being reconstructed for Georgian IDPs. In conclusion it has to be mentioned again, that IDP housing remains a growing concern as demand for government assistance grows and problem is insufficiently addressed by the international humanitarian organizations.
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Consolidated report on IDP settlement issue