Gali residents in occupied Abkhazia have not received IDP benefits, pensions for 4 months

Gamakharia noted that the residents of Gali are in a more difficult situation than before, they have no income, they are hungry and there is a  deficit of medicines in the region. Photo: Erik Hoeg/Twitter.

Agenda.ge, 06 Jul 2020 - 14:44, Tbilisi,Georgia

Residents of Gali in occupied Abkhazia have not received IDP benefits and pensions for four months, said Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia Jemal Gamakharia.

The reason is that these people used to receive this money in Zugdidi or elsewhere on Georgia-controlled territory but now the borders are closed at the Enguri Bridge by the Sokhumi de-facto government amid the coronavirus.

Gamakharia noted that the residents of Gali are in a more difficult situation than before, they have no income, they are hungry and there is a  deficit of medicines in the region.

In Gali district we are dealing with a terrible humanitarian catastrophe,” said Gamakharia.

He noted that people who are starving, as well as university applicants and students, are trying to enter Georgia-controlled territory using backroads and even try crossing the Enguri River. 

We must assume that [entering Georgia by crossing Enguri river] will continue in the future. If this situation is not improved, people who are in this hopeless situation will definitely continue to cross the Enguri River and try to enter Zugdidi. It is not impossible many could drown”, said Gamakharia.

He noted that the legitimate government of Abkhazia, within its competence and capabilities, will make every effort to solve at least some of the vital problems created by the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gali district.