Georgia - DHA-15: 1-31.Jul.97
Georgia - DHA-15: 1-31.Jul.97
DHAGVA 97/0317
Situation Report from the DHA Coordinator in GEORGIA - No. 15
Period covered: 1-31 July 1997
Counterpart International Assesses Medical Facilities in Abkhazia
Counterpart International, a United States-based NGO, assessed the
humanitarian needs of hospitals in Gali, Sukhumi and the Kodori Valley
during a visit from 14 to 19 July. This was the Organisation's first
delegation visit to the region. Counterparts received organisational and
transport assistance from DHA and UNOMIG.
After visiting the Gali hospital, Counterpart, with DHA's field adviser,
met health officials in Sukhumi and conducted site visits of the
Maternity Hospital, Republican Hospital, Oncology Hospital, and Hospital
No.2 (city hospital). Of primary concern is the maternity hospital,
which was destroyed during the war and has been relocated since October
1993 to an old railway hospital. The head of the current maternity
hospital reported that the building is in a very poor condition. The
hospital has no running water. On average, seven women share one small
room. There were more than 20 new-borns in the post-delivery room and
one baby in the hospital's only incubator. When two babies require
incubation, a decision must be made about which infant has the best
chance of survival. Some relief assistance has been provided by ICRC,
MSF, Premiere Urgence and UNICEF.
Since a new maternity ward is not expected to open in the near future,
the head doctor requested short-term emergency items: (an additional
incubator, surgical instruments, linens and doctors' clothing).
The Republican Hospital has undergone considerable renovation since the
facility was severely damaged during the war. Entire wings of the
hospital which were not renovated remain unusable. Nevertheless, the
hospital has a new surgical floor, a new resuscitation room, a
functioning traumatology unit and a small neurosurgery unit. A
representative from the Republican Hospital reported that the hospital
needs basic supplies and equipment, such as surgical and traumatological
instruments, autoclaves and medical furniture.
Hospital No.2 (city hospital) and the oncology hospital were also
assessed. Representatives from Hospital No. 2 listed a gastroscope,
sterilisers, diagnostic equipment, and hospital furniture as their
essential needs. In the Kodori Valley, an assessment team comprising
DHA, UNHCR and Counterpart, supported by UNOMIG, visited the valley's
only hospital, which was destroyed during the war. Currently, there are
two small medical facilities based in the village of Adjara, a home
which has been converted to the primary facility and a stationary army
ambulance which were leftover from the war. The facility is equipped
neither to perform the simplest of surgeries nor to cope with severe
traumatic injuries. Severe cases must be evacuated either by helicopter
or by ambulance.
The valley lacks basic medicines and supplies to cope with some of the
region's most pressing health concerns, such as diabetes, asthma, and
heart and stomach problems. According to health officials, nearly half
of the Kodori Valley's population are pensioners. They further explained
that those who do not have family support often suffer from
malnutrition. The situation is exacerbated in winter months when the
valley is virtually cut off because of heavy snows. Winter supplies of
basic foods tiffs, such as flour, salt, oil and sugar, were requested.
ICRC, MSF, and UMCOR make occasional donations of medicines, and UNICEF
recently supplied the primary medical facility with a refrigerator and
vaccines for measles, tetanus, whooping cough and diphtheria.
Counterpart plans to make a shipment of humanitarian medical supplies to
Abkhazia in August, before heavy rains and snow make the roads
impassable.
Tskhinvali Region (South Ossetia) Meetings Address Civilians' Needs
Two meetings held in Tskhinvali during July addressed multi-sectoral
assistance to civilians in needs throughout the region and neighbouring
areas. The first, held under the auspices of the United Nations Resident
and Humanitarian Coordinator, included representatives of the Georgian
Government and a Southern Osset delegation. Discussions centered on
agriculture, communications, construction, education, energy, and
health. Specific projects in each sector were discussed and, in some
cases, bids for tender have been sought and are being evaluated. For
example, it was agreed that the tender to repair the bridge crossing the
Patsa river would be issued during early August and that bids should be
made during the second half of the month so that work could start in the
near future. The second meeting, organised by the Southern Osset
migration office, included participants from the Georgian Government,
OSCE, UN and non-governmental organisations. The meeting aimed at
discussing the situation of returning refugees to the Tskhinvali region
and other areas of Georgia. The need to enhance mutual cooperation was
mentioned and the meeting served to address first, information sharing
on programmes both inside the Tskhinvali region and in neighbouring
areas, whether other parts of Georgia or the Russian Federation, second,
the way in which humanitarian organisations work and the constraints
under which their operations take place were clarified.
SECTORS
Agriculture
A meeting of the International Working Group for Agricultural
Development was held on 26 July 1996. The subject of the discussion was
the EU Counterpart Fund and the World Bank projects for agricultural
credit unions. The EU Counterpart Fund has established three credit
unions in Sighnaghi, Lanchkhuti and Khobi. The credit unions have
received loans on advantageous conditions in the total amount of GEL
694,495. Their total income is estimated at GEL 1,235,300. For the time
being the crops are satisfactory in all three districts.
Health
The IFRC Medical Department in close cooperation with the Ministry of
Health (MOH) and the Georgian Red Cross (GRC) held a training course for
doctors in Tbilisi. The main topics on the agenda were modern diagnoses
and rational treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The trainers
included Georgian experts and representatives of the MoH. All doctors
working in dermatological and venereal dispensaries in east Georgia were
invited.
Food Aid
A significant new contribution of wheat flour from Japan will enable WFP
to continue until the end of October 1997 with its humanitarian feeding
and FFW rehabilitation programmes. WFP is currently targeting 170,000
most vulnerable people in Georgia, of whom about 110,000 are women and
children. The first tranche, 1,500 MTs of the total Japanese donation of
3,060 MTs of wheat flour, was expected to arrive on board m-v Mekhanik
Vakutinf in the port of Batumi on 12 July. However, it was held in
Bosphorus for technical reasons and arrived in the port on 22 July 1997.
Psycho-Social Rehabilitation
The centre of psycho-social aid Barbalef, with UNICEF's funding,
finished a six-month psycho-social-emotional programme in the auxiliary
boarding schools one and two for mentally handicapped children in
Tbilisi and two psycho neurological boarding schools for orphans in
Kaspi and Senaki. The programme included: a) psychodiagnosis of children
in Senaki boarding school, b) training of tutors and nurses in all four
institutions, c) preparation of manuals for tutors and nurses on aspects
of special care and child development, d) organisation of workshops in
all four institutions to develop children's manual abilities and working
skills, e) small excursions for children once a month to develop their
social skills.
Income Generation: World Vision SEED Project
World Vision International started its Small Enterprise Education and
Development (SEED) programme in Georgia in 1994. After successful
completion of a one-year pilot project, WVI received a grant of USD
838,834 from USAID to run the SEED project for two years. Starting with
USD 200 grants, which were monitored during six months, the project went
to a USD 500 grant programme, which included loan components. Since May
1997, WVI started to disburse individual loans of up to USD 3,000.
As of 30 June 1997, 647 groups were funded by the WVI grant project and
546 were viable. 1,351 people worked in these groups and supported
22,282 individuals. 419 groups that completed the programme as of 30
June 1997 generated GEL 22,053 as profits and GEL 146,693 as income from
business during six months period. As of the end of June 1997, about USD
142,000 was granted to micro enterprises to start or expand their
businesses. As part of the grant programme, World Vision recently
published a colour catalogue depicting the products of the work of the
Georgian artisans funded by the WVI grant programme. The catalogue is
aimed at expanding the market outside Georgia.
Along with the increased grant programme World Vision started to
disburse experimental loans of up to USD 500 for a maximum six-month
period with no interest. All experimental loans were totally repaid on
time according to the monthly repayment schedule agreed on.
The World Vision loan programme offers loans from USD 500 to USD 3,000
with 3 percent interest rate and loans under USD 500 with 2 percent. WVI
conducts a careful selection and application process and provides
training for the selected applicants. As of 30 July 1997 World Vision
distributed 15 loans. The current portfolio is USD 20,623. This includes
two experimental loans with a decreased interest rate.
Feature
Talks on the conflict in Abkhazia were held in Geneva from 23 to 25 July
1997, under the auspices of the United Nations and chaired by the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General. In addition to the two
sides to the conflict, participants included the Russian Federation, in
its capacity as facilitator, and the Group of Friends of the
Secretary-General on Georgia as well as the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe. During the meeting's third day, the UN
Secretariat's Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) and the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spoke of the humanitarian
situation in Abkhazia.
The DHA representative at the meeting stated that food supplies are
often scarce, particularly for the aged who have no income or family
support. The population's health is dwindling: tuberculosis is on the
rise and infections diseases afflict thousands of civilians. Indeed, the
whole health sector is in a critical situation crippled by a destroyed
infrastructure and outmoded policies and strategies. Shelter, especially
in areas of return, is totally inadequate.
Both statements the DHA and the UNHCR reaffirmed the principles of
humanity, neutrality, and impartiality that guide United Nations
humanitarian programmes. Both parties to the conflict were called on to
play their part in respecting aid workers' freedom of movement and
ensuring their security and safety. Concerning the security of both the
population and UN and associated staff working in Abkhazia, all relevant
parties were asked to address the mine problem and banditry.
As the UN's key implementing agency in Abkhazia, UNHCR's representative
at the meeting spoke about the agencys effort to find durable solutions
and, as part of its protection mandate, to increase respect for human
rights. The agency's work relies on the availability of resources. To
this end, donors were thanked for past contributions and invited to
continue their financial support.
Finally, participants heard from both DHA and UNHCR that, ultimately,
the population's welfare depends on the goodwill of the two sides to the
conflict. While humanitarian assistance can do its part to help those in
need and build confidence amongst the concerned communities, political
actors, not aid agencies, have to find a long-term solution to resolving
the conflict.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
United Nations Office in Tbilisi, Georgia
Mr. Toby Lanzer
Tel.: (995 32) 94 31 63 - Fax: (995 32) 95 95 16
E-Mail: toby@undha.org.ge
Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) - Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1401 - Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Rosemary.Addo-Yirenkyi@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergency Division (CED) - New York
Mr. Kazuhide Kuroda
Tel.: (1 212) 963.5713 - Fax: (1 212) 963.3630
E-Mail: kuroda@un.org
Press to contact (DHA-Geneva)
Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2856 - Fax: (41 22) 917.0023
Telex: 414242 DHA CH - E-Mail: Moulin-Acevedo@dha.unicc.org
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