109 refugee families gifted new homes in Kutaisi

Hundreds of Georgian people displaced by conflict and violence who live in sub-standard collective centres have been gifted apartments in their name for the symbolic price of one GEL.

109 internally displaced families living in sub-standard conditions at the hospital building in Kutaisi, in Georgia’s west, will soon be gifted apartments in a private ownership scheme. The new living facilities were fitted out to suit people with disabilities.

The rehousing project launched on November 1, 2014 and will continue for 10 months.

Earlier, the State Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia hired 64 people to evaluate the condition of the collective centres. Those refugees found to be living in the worst condition were offered alternative housing.

A 2013 United Nations survey revealed many collective centres did not meet adequate standards. To get IDPs into adequate housing, the Georgian Government purchased more than 1,500 houses. These will soon be gifted to eligible families in Georgia’s regional areas.

According to the United Nations Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) there were up to 206,600 IDPs registered by in Georgia at the end of 2013.

About 45 percent of IDP’s lived in collective centres. Of this, the majority of housing (70 percent) do not meet minimum shelter standards, lack adequate privacy, lack access to water, proper insulation and functional sewage systems, stated the Gap analysis of the UN Refugee Agency.