EU, UNHCR and foreign governments offer assistance to Georgia

The international community is offering assistance and standing in solidarity with Georgia and its people following the deadly flood that hit Tbilisi on Saturday night.

The European Union (EU) has expressed its full solidarity to Georgia as it works to clean up from the devastating flood.

The EU released a statement yesterday that said the EU was ready to deploy assistance to help the stricken country.

Our thoughts are with the victims and those who are affected by the deadly floods in Tbilisi caused by the heavy rainfalls that hit the country over the past two days. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre is closely monitoring the developments,” said the EU in its statement.

We are in contact with Georgian authorities and are ready to deploy assistance to help the country in the aftermath of this disaster that claimed lives, caused severe damage to the infrastructure in the capital and disrupted the basic services in the city,” the statement released.

Additionally, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed sympathy for the families of the 12 victims and announced it will provide relief to families affected by the flash flood.

Our team is keeping in contact with the Georgian Government in order to determine ways to help. First aid relief items provided by the UNHCR have been loaded into the helicopter to deliver to Tskneti and Betania. Our trucks are loaded and ready to distribute additional aid, if necessary, said the UNHCR in a statement.

Meanwhile, Georgia's Foreign Ministry announced several events had been planned for different countries to raise money for Tbilisi residents who had suffered from Saturday night's natural disaster.

A charity concert will be held in Siauliai, Lithuania, where all funds raised will be donated to affected families in Tbilisi.

In addition, Polish businessman Mariusz Artur Napora shared a photo of the Tbilisi natural disaster on his Facebook page and called on his friends to help people in Tbilisi and arrange a charity auction.

It is a big damage for Georgia, which is not one of the richest countries of the world. Let's help those who need our help," wrote Napora on his Facebook page.

The governments of Latvia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Lithuania, the United States, Spain,Ukraine, Russia and others have expressed readiness to provide assistance to Georgia as it recovers from the devastating flash flood.