UNDP to launch $4.5 mln program in Georgia to protect 4 municipalities from floods
Over 60% of Georgia’s population lives in disaster-risk regions. Floods and other climate-induced disasters have cost Georgia over $1.2 million economic losses over the past two decades. Photo: ge.undp.org.
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Four Georgian municipalities will benefit from a flood protection initiative that the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are implementing in partnership with the Georgian Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.
The $4.5 million agreement was signed by the Head of UNDP Nick Beresford and Chairperson of the Georgian Ministry of Regional Development Giorgi Tsereteli to implement flood protection measures in the Abasha, Kobuleti, Lagodekhi and Senaki municipalities for the Tskhenistkali, Achkva, Lagodekhiskhevi and Tsivi rivers.
To break cycles of climate-induced disasters, we [the Ministry of Regional Development and UNDP] must protect people’s lives and property from the most severe consequences of climate change and work together to find greener and more sustainable development solutions”, said Beresford.
Beresford said that within the project riverbeds will be cleaned and flood barriers will be constructed.
Over 60% of Georgia’s population lives in disaster-risk regions. Floods and other climate-induced disasters have cost Georgia over $1.2 million economic losses over the past two decades.
As part of a $74 million nationwide effort funded by the Green Climate Fund and the governments of Georgia, Sweden and Switzerland, UNDP is assisting Georgia to develop a national system of climate adaptation and disaster prevention measures. The seven-year programme will reduce the risk of climate-induced disasters in 11 Georgian river basins and cut economic losses by up to 90 percent.
The first nationwide opinion poll about climate change conducted by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia reads that Georgians see climate change as one of the top three challenges facing humanity, including poverty and infectious diseases.
Georgia will receive a €33m grant from Green Climate Fund for efforts in developing forest waste utilisation and contribute to efforts for reducing greenhouse emissions, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture revealed on Wednesday.
A €10 million project will be launched in Georgia’s Black Sea region of Adjara to promote rural development and small and medium-sized businesses in the region.
Tea Akhvlediani, the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, discussed the humanitarian situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) with Nick Beresford, the UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia, on Thursday.