OCHA Situation Report
Georgia
September 2004
9 October 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights:

    Georgian-Russian Relationships
    Railway Connection Resumed Between Sukhumi and Moscow
    A Group of OSCE Ambassadors Visited Georgia
    Number of Chechen Refugees Reduced in Georgia
    Mikheil Saakashvili Delivers Speech at the UN General Assembly Session
    A meeting of JCC Held in Moscow
    New JPKF Commander Approved

Humanitarian and Development Update:

    Assistance to the South Ossetian Population
    ATC Project by ICRC
    EC Approves Humanitarian Aid Package for Georgia
    Situation in Svaneti
    New Shelter Project at Tskhaltubo Sanatoria
    Georgian Red Cross Society Activities

Local NGO Spotlight:

    Random Act for Kindness


HIGHLIGHTS

Georgian-Russian Relationships

Terrorist act in Beslan School, North Ossetian Republic, Russian
Federation had further negatively affected the already tense
Georgian-Russian relationships. On 1 September, Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili stated that Georgia is ready to expand cooperation with Russia
to fight terrorism. Georgia condemned the terrorist acts in Russia's
capital, Moscow on August 31 and hostage-taking in Beslan. On 9 September,
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov linked the hostage drama in Beslan
and the crisis in South Ossetia. This confirms the worst fears of Tbilisi
that Russian authorities will try to vent the public frustration in Russia
and, especially, North Ossetia by fanning tensions with Georgia. This
scenario carries dangers of a region-wide escalation. Increased
nervousness in Tbilisi over Russia's intentions pushes Saakashvili's
government into an emergency mode of operation and can hamper key
political and economic reforms.

Railway Connection Resumed Between Sukhumi and Moscow

Railway connection was resumed between Moscow and Sukhumi, the capital of
Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia, on 10 September, despite protest of the
Georgian side. The rail link connecting Georgia and Russia was running
through Abkhazia and ceased operating after Abkhazia de facto seceded from
Georgia in a violent conflict 11 years ago. In March 2003, Georgian
President Shevardnadze and his Russian counterpart Putin have agreed to
re-open communication between the two countries via Sukhumi, with the
Georgian side demanding return of the Georgian displaced persons to
Abkhazia's easternmost Gali region as a necessary precondition. However,
the recent resumption of railway link was not accompanied by return of
Georgian IDPs in Gali district, which generated protest of Georgian side.

A Group of OSCE Ambassadors Visited Georgia

A group of ambassadors accredited in the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) visited Georgia during 5-9 September. During
the visit the OSCE delegation visited capitals of Georgia's breakaway
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and held talks with the Georgian
leadership. The delegation also paid a brief visit to those sections of
the Russo-Georgian border, which are monitored by the OSCE observers.
Border monitoring mission was launched by the OSCE in 1999 and includes
Ingush, Chechen and Daghestani sections of the Russian-Georgian state
border. The visit was agreed during the special session of the OSCE
Permanent Council convened on August 18 to discuss situation in breakaway
South Ossetia.

Number of Chechen Refugees Reduced in Georgia

2,650 Chechen refugees underwent registration carried out in Georgia's
Akhmeta district and the villages of Pankisi gorge in August, according to
the Georgian Ministry for Refugees and Accommodations (MRA). 3,700 Chechen
refugees were registered in Pankisi gorge last year. Many Chechens have
already left Georgia and moved back to Chechnya, or left for third
country, as their number halved after 1999, when up to 7,000 Chechens fled
from the second war in Chechnya.

Mikheil Saakashvili Delivers Speech at the UN General Assembly Session

President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili participated in the UN General
Assembly session held on 21 September in NY, where he delivered a speech.
In his address to the UN General Assembly Session Georgian President
reiterated Georgia's commitment to deal with the separatist regions of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia "through solely peaceful means" and proposed a
"stage-by-stage conflict settlement plan." In his 25 minute long speech
Mikheil Saakashvili also spoke of relations with Russia and offered to
facilitate "mechanics of new relations" between the two countries, which
envisage the creation of a joint, anti-terrorism center.

A Meeting of JCC Held in Moscow

A meeting of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), involving
Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian representatives,
started in Moscow on 30 September. The issues of withdrawal of illegal
armed groups from the conflict area, stabilization of the situation, as
well as the possibility of holding a meeting between South Ossetian de
facto President Eduard Kokoev and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania
within the frames of the JCC were on the agenda of the talks.

New JPKF Commander Approved

Co-chairmen of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) for the Georgian -
Ossetian Conflict regulation have appointed Marat Kulakhmatov to the post
of the commander of the joint peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone.
Kulakhmatov replaced Sviatoslav Nabzdorov at this post. The latter has
been awarded by the Russian president for his deserve toward the country.
The new commander presented his speech at JCC session admitting the
mistakes of his predecessor. The meeting of the Georgian Prime Minister
Zurab Zhvania and the de facto Ossetian president Kokoiti was still the
main topic of the JCC meeting. Georgian party wants to hold this meeting
in Bulgaria, while the Russian party urges the Georgian PM and Kokoiti
should meet in Sochi, Russia. The meeting might take place in second-half
of October.


HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Assistance to the South Ossetian Population

In the beginning of September, Georgian Government relocated persons
displaced in result of the August armed clashes in South Ossetia back to
their places or residence. Government of Georgia has undertaken some
humanitarian efforts in order to assist the both, ethnic Georgian and
Ossetian population in the region. Caritas Georgia has distributed 10
tones of wheat flour and 5 tones of sugar. UNHCR is constructing 49
blockhouses for 49 returnee families in South Ossetia. Another 49 families
have received or are receiving assistance in the form of shelter kits. A
total of 103 returnee families have been/or are being provided with food
assistance. In addition, the US non-governmental humanitarian organization
"Lutheran World Relief" has donated to UNHCR quilts, school kits, health
kits and baby kits, which are to be distributed to returnees and
vulnerable groups in South Ossetia.

46 sets of Medical and Hygienic Supplies including various medicines as
well as 41 school kits were sent by UNICEF to 23 hard-to-reach villages of
Kurta, Eredvi and Tighvi communes of the South Ossetia region. UNICEF
truck went through a shaky and mountainous road severely bombarded just a
month ago to deliver badly needed supplies to more than 5000 women and
children living in conflict-torn villages of the Valley of the river
Liakhvi. The distribution of medical supplies to the local hospitals and
that of the school supplies to schools continued during three days. UNICEF
staff and local government representatives delivered the supplies directly
to the beneficiaries who faced an outbreak of the conflict a month ago.

ATC Project by ICRC

In 2001, the international Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) assessment
mission revealed a growing rate of destitution among the elderly, the
disabled and some large families. In the absence of other organisations
that had the flexibility to respond, and due to the shift towards
development activities of those that remained the ICRC was compelled to
intervene and launched a food and non-food assistance effort for 20,000
vulnerable households in western Georgia in spring 2002. Twelve months
later, a review was carried out to evaluate the programme's rationale and
to see how it could be diversified. The review concluded that the
challenge was twofold. First, the ICRC should move its programme away from
food assistance for as many beneficiaries as possible and give them the
opportunity to earn their own livelihoods.

However, most were too destitute for the traditional approaches taken by
developmental organizations. The ICRC, therefore, in collaboration with
the beneficiaries, decided to design what is called an "agriculture, trade
and craft (ATC) programme" to be implemented over a period of two years.
These projects consist of a distribution of agricultural and other trade
and craft items, with which the beneficiaries can start to become
self-sufficient.

The second challenge is to develop a withdrawal strategy for those unable
to benefit from the ATC programme. A hard core of around 5,000 households
may suffer further hardship after the ICRC's withdrawal if no plan is
found to help them.

On the basis of the review's recommendations, the ICRC classified
households into four categories:

Group A was considered very destitute and had no member of working age.
This group was therefore considered unable to take part in an ATC project
at this stage. The beneficiaries that qualified for the programme are
those households in groups B, C and D, who are given the choice of an
agricultural, trade or craft grant or a last-ever distribution of a triple
aid ration.

An ICRC agronomist has developed ten types of possible grants covering
crops, horticulture and livestock to be provided in 2004 and 2005. The
agriculture-based projects are already being implemented. Few trade and
craft grants will be handed out in 2004 given that most areas being
covered are rural. More trade and craft grants will be donated next year
when families in urban areas are included.

After the completion of the ATC projects in 2005, there will remain around
5,000 Group A households (about 7,500 people) who are particularly
vulnerable. They cannot be considered for the ATC programme since many are
old or disabled, some bedridden. They are simply unable to fend for
themselves.

A detailed analysis of this group and the various needs within it has not
as yet been carried out. Some may be able to depend on the help and
support of extended family members.

However, this will still leave a hard core of desperate cases requiring
long-term care. Developing a sustainable project for this group is the
ICRC's goal for the coming year.

It has already enhanced its cooperation with the Ministry of Labour,
Health and Social Affairs to ensure that basic urgent health care is
provided. For some of the bedridden, living in poor housing conditions,
the ICRC has undertaken repairs to prevent leaks and flooding.

But the ICRC is aware that it cannot accomplish a long-term solution on
its own and is looking for alternative ways forward and partnerships with
the government of Georgia, other sections of the Movement and local NGOs
to make an eventual withdrawal possible. It is hoped that the lessons
learnt in Georgia by the ICRC and other interested parties will provide
some pointers to a more efficient and effective approach that can be used
in future by all interested parties active in transitional situations.

In particular, it may result in an improved integration and coordination
of humanitarian, structural and development programmes.

EC Approves Humanitarian Aid Package for Georgia

The European Commission has approved a =804 million humanitarian aid package
to support vulnerable people in Georgia, affected by the unresolved
conflict between Abkhazia and Georgia. The recipients will include
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Georgia as well as vulnerable
groups in Abkhazia and Western Georgia and children in Tbilisi. Funds are
being allocated via the Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO. Assistance to
vulnerable groups will be provided in the following sectors: food, medical
support and shelter. Programmes will be implemented by international
agencies operating in the region. The EC funding will be implemented by
the following organisations: ICRC, ACH, MSF France, Premiere Urgence,
Alisei Foundation (Italian NGO that is in the process of establishing its
presence in Georgia) and Danish Refugee Council.  ICRC and ACH will
continue their humanitarian activities in western Georgia, MSF will
provide medical assistance to Samegrelo regions, Premiere Urgence will
implement food security programme in Sukhumi, Alisei will do
rehabilitation in Tbilisi and Rustavi, and DRC will do rehabilitation in
Tskaltubo district, Imereti. Under rehabilitation activities the
rehabilitation of the shelter for the most vulnerable and IDP collective
centres is meant.

Situation in Svaneti

As a follow up to floods in Svaneti region, several donor organizations
and international NGOs have provided assistance. German Government has
allocated =8033,000 to deliver household items (blankets, pillows,
bedsheets, etc) to the affected population. The French Government through
its Embassy in Georgia has handed over 2 tractors and one escalator to the
local authorities in Mestia district. Also, Care International is
implementing infrastructure rehabilitation with the financial support of
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and UK Department for
International Development (DFID). The project is based on community
mobilization initiatives and will result in restoration of bridges, water
supply and other infrastructure in the most affected districts.  In terms
of agriculture inputs, some ten days ago Georgian Ministry of Food and
Agriculture has requested FAO through its technical cooperation unit to
assist with potato seeds and nitrogen fertiliser.

During the period of July 23 ? September 26, Counterpart International has
implemented Upper Svaneti Flood Disaster Relief Programme funded by USAID.
The project objectives included assistance in the rehabilitation of
housing in one of the disaster-stricken villages, the rebuild of the most
critical infrastructure around the village, and the provision of
critically needed commodities including food hygiene, and household items
to ensure survival of people affected by the disaster through the coming
winter. In July, Counterpart delivered high-capacity tents, 4,310
Humanitarian Daily Rations, 330 bags of green peas and 280 boxes of Crisis
Care Kits. Later Counterpart distributed three 40-foot containers of food
and household items.

During early August, Counterpart has been working with local authorities,
as well as geologists, engineers and local population to assess the impact
of disaster on individual houses and infrastructure. Three beneficiary
villages: Ipari, Tsvirmi and Mulakhi were identified where local
communities and authorities were ready to provide contribution through
labour and locally available construction materials.

WFP has conducted food security assessment in northern mountainous Svaneti
region, affected by floods/landslides in July 2004. This assessment was a
follow up of WFP's emergency food distribution in July (2 months ration of
food for up to 2,000 beneficiaries). The assessment showed that local
population lack adequate shelter and is in need of food aid to survive
during the long winter months. The agency decided to expand this emergency
project and distribute additional 5 months food ration to the same
beneficiaries. Food commodities will be delivered in nearest future and
before the winter season.

New Shelter Project at Tskhaltubo Sanatoria

Funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), Danish
Refugee Council (DRC) is responsible for implementation of a shelter
repair project at Tskaltubo in Imereti region, targeting 19 collective
centres hosting 5,345 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Abkhazia.

The project is based on needs and capacities identified and prioritized by
the beneficiaries during social rehabilitation assistance facilitated by a
local NGO, "Tetnuldi", working in long-term partnership with DRC.

Implementation of the shelter repair project is being facilitated by a
project team. The project team is led by a DRC technical team, headed by a
Shelter Project Coordinator, which is responsible for management and
coordination of the various activities and stakeholders of the
intervention. In addition, "Tetnuldi" will participate in the project team
with a view to ensuring maximum community participation in the
implementation process.

Project activities focus on repair of collective centre buildings and
facilities, which will be carried out by service contractors selected
trough a transparent tender procedure, involving the beneficiaries in the
process. With the population of the targeted collective centres also
committed to contribute labour to ensure an adequate standard of living,
selected contractors will be expected to work with the residents.

The Shelter Project Team is expected to conclude its work by April 2005.
If you wish to learn more about the DRC Shelter Project at Tskhaltubo,
please contact our Shelter Project Coordinator, Dimitry Ukleba, on mobile
phone: 899 551 332, or via e-mail: dimitry@drc.ge.

Georgian Red Cross Society Activities

It has been almost a year since International Federation of Red cross and
Red Crescent Societies (the Federation) re-engaged in Georgia and launched
an operation to support the Georgian Red Cross in re-establishing its
basic institutional capacities.

The history of the Federation and Georgian Red Cross cooperation is
extensive. The Federation has been assisting the Georgian Red Cross to
reduce vulnerability in the country since 1992, mainly in relief with an
increasing emphasis on development and capacity building. In 2001,
however, due to uncertainty over the leadership of the National Society,
the Federation's presence in Georgia was reduced. It maintained a small
office, to ensure liaison between the Federation and the Georgian Red
Cross, international organizations, and Georgian authorities. In early
2002, the new president of the Georgian Red Cross was confirmed. A new
presidium was elected, and new senior staff members were appointed.

In September-October 2002, considering massive humanitarian challenges
confronting the country and a relative stability in the National Society,
the Federation in cooperation with the ICRC, conducted an assessment to
identify areas for potential assistance to the Red Cross in its work.
Guided by the results of the assessment, the Federation has launched a
six-month project to support the National Society in re-establishing its
basic institutional capacities. The project was a first phase of the
Federation's re-engagement in Georgia.

The immediate priorities for the Federation assistance included
strengthening the National Society capacities at the headquarters level so
that it could provide effective support to the branches. As a result of
the change process considerable progress has been made.

In 2004, the Red Cross Society launched a pilot initiative aiming at
encouraging its targeted branches to work in a participatory community
development (PCD) approach. The Red Cross identified two branches, in
Gardabani of Kvemo Kartli region and Kvareli of Kakheti region, to pilot
the PCD approach based on the analysis of the branch assessment results
and pre-determined criteria, including capacity of the branches,
foundation, basic infrastructure, committed management, and the number of
members and volunteers; branch location to enable effective management and
monitoring of the project activities, and the level of vulnerability:
access to basic health and social welfare services.

To help the Georgian Red Cross branches pilot the new approach, their
staff and volunteers will be trained on participatory community
development, as well as, participatory rapid appraisal methodologies. Both
approaches aim to increase community involvement in Red Cross work.

Reflecting on the limited capacities the organization currently has, as
well as the analysis of the needs in the country, the Red Cross has
prioritized reviving its traditional homecare service. This initiative
aims to create a simple, clear and visible opportunity to boost the image
of the organization, afected by the events of the last two years. With
minimum funds the Red Cross anticipates to make a significant difference.
The project will focus be on 1,500 of the most vulnerable, homebound lone
pensioners living in Tbilisi. Beneficiaries will be selected by the
Tbilisi district branch of the Red Cross in co-operation with the local
authorities.

The project will pilot a participatory humanitarian relief approach to
make the assistance more focused and relevant. Beneficiaries will be
offered a list of relief items to choose according to their needs. The
approach has been included after reflecting on the lessons learned from
the past operations. Previously, the Red Cross was delivering a standard
package of relief items, such as wheat flour, rice, sugar, cooking oil,
soap and washing powder, although these might not have been the needs of
all beneficiaries. As a result, some were selling the items provided by
the Red Cross to buy things, which they thought was more important for
them, such as electric bulbs, medicines, matches and candles.

At the same time, the Red Cross will be encouraging the Government to
prioritize help to lone pensioners. The past practice shows this group is
among the first affected when the authorities cut the national budget.
There is also a need to create the legal environment in the country for
the alternative systems to help the elderly.


LOCAL NGO SPOTLIGHT

During 1-7 November 2004, "Random Act for Kindness," a joint charity
initiative of Gori-based NGOs is planned in Gori, Shida Kartli region. The
goal of the campaign is to support vulnerable children, disabled, IDPs,
elderly people and other vulnerable segments of population.

The following activities are planned to be conducted within one week's
period: fair-exhibition of handiwork of elderly people, children, IDP and
disabled people, sport marathon ? tour in town, performance ? staged by
children of Tbilisi organization "Child and Environment", free medical
consultations and medical aid, and competition for school children on the
topic: "Random Act of Kindness".

By donated sum of money collected during charitable concert organized
within the framework of charitable week a wooden-saloon for meetings of
socially unprotected elderly people, children and disabled persons at the
territory of Gori Stalin Park will be arranged. Interested organisations
and individuals are welcome to join the above-mentioned activities.

For further information, please contact Ms. Mari Mgebrishvili, Society
"Biliki", address: 27 Samepo Street, Gori 1400, Georgia. Tel/fax: 8 (270)
754 10, E-mail: sbiliki@iberiapac.ge, biliki@rambler.ru

Produced by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA)-Georgia

For more information or your comments and suggestions please contact Ms.
Maka Esaiashvili, Information Officer.
Address: 9 Eristavi Street, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Tel: (995 32) 95 95 16, 94 31 63.
Fax: (995 32) 95 95 16;
e-mail: maka.esaiashvili@unocha.org.ge

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