Health ministry says “no delay” in social aid for Ukrainians in response to claims

The Georgian health ministry on Wednesday said there was “no delay” in provision of the social assistance programme for Ukrainian nationals stranded in Georgia by the war in their home country, in response to a post published on social media on behalf of Ukrainian citizens in Georgia and claiming aid was not reaching them. 

The body released its response to the post made by Georgian citizen Kakha Tsikarishvili on the page of the Civil Platform in Support of Ukraine, which claimed interruptions in the state aid programme - which has been running since July - and asked prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and relevant state agencies to look into the alleged issue. 

• Gov’t extends support programme for Ukrainians in Georgia

In its reaction, the ministry said “all beneficiaries” meeting the criteria for the programme who had applied for the support were receiving the aid. “There are no delays in the implementation of the programme and as of today, 2,064 families - 4,050 individuals - have received assistance”, it stressed.

It also said of the individuals mentioned in the published letter, 10 citizens of Ukraine who met the criteria had received financial assistance, adding the “smooth” provision of support could also be confirmed by the agency for internally displaced persons, which it said “has daily contact with international organisations”.

Georgian minister for IDPs and health Zurab Azarashvili said on Tuesday that along with the Georgian authorities, the United Nations Refugee Agency was providing ₾250 ($89) monthly financial aid for Ukrainians in Georgia. Photo: health ministry press office. 

The state body explained the socioeconomic package for Ukrainian nationals included monetary provisions for accommodation and living expenses and applied to those who had entered Georgia after February 1 and those with the right to permanent residence in Ukraine but unable to return to the country due to the ongoing hostilities.

It also noted ₾1,8 million ($644,000) had been spent for social assistance and housing of Ukrainian nationals since July 15, while ₾200,000 ($72,000) had been spent for their temporary accommodation and about ₾800,000 ($286,000) for medical services.

On Tuesday, the government extended the programme until May 1 next year.

The ministry also said it was cooperating with international organisations to help Ukrainian citizens who did not meet the criteria for the programme, advising the individuals to address the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Georgia, World Vision Georgia, ASB Georgia and Care Caucasus instead for financial aid.