Billionaire Saudi Prince donates to Tbilisi flood victims

Georgia will receive a hefty donation from a Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince to help the country recover from the devastating flood that slammed Georgia’s capital Tbilisi on June 13.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal – one of the most influential businessmen of the Arab world – has donated $300,000 USD (about 673,800 GEL) to help the Tbilisi flood victims.

Talal visited Georgia just three days before the natural disaster. He met Georgian leaders and learnt about the country’s investment potential. 

A letter written by Prince Alwaleed to Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stressed the Saudi Prince wanted to expressed his "deep grief” and condolences to the people of Georgia following the natural disaster.

"Friends always stand beside each other during hard times. The Alwaleed Philanthropies Foundation is one of the first among those that provides assistance to flood victims. Mr. Prime Minister, we are praying for you and your people,” said the Saudi Prince in his letter.

Since the flood, Prince Alwaleed regularly received information on recovery efforts from Georgia's Embassy to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, PM Garibashvili thanked the Saudi Prince as well as other Georgian and foreign business community representatives who had offered assistance and stood in solidarity with Georgia and its people following the deadly flash flood.

Garibashvili specifically emphasized the support of Georgia’s neighbours Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine and also EU member countries.

He noted Tbilisi City Hall was working hard to complete the resettlement process of those who were left homeless by the flood, and this process was being monitored by the PM himself and other members of the Government.

As of June 29, a total of $23,562,002 GEL, $706,553 USD and €13,221 has been donated to accounts meant for assisting the relief effort.

The loss inflicted by the disaster is understood to exceed 100 million GEL and about 400 people from 80 families were affected by the flash flood.

The Patriarchate of Georgia was among the donors - he supported the flood-affected families with a 100,000 GEL donation.

Meanwhile the Presidential Reserve Fund allocated 200,000 GEL and the Governmental Reserve Fund allocated 150,000 GEL to the relief fund.