Public Defender’s Report about Eco-Migrants from Adjara Residing in Koreti

The 2010 report of the Public Defender of Georgia Giorgi Tughushi covered the return of eco-migrants residing in Koreti village in Akhmeta district to Adjara. The ombudsman said the Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees does not properly work out and implement post-accommodation programs for the eco-migrants.

“In 2010, families, victimized by the natural disaster in mountainous Adjara, who remained homeless, were settled in Koreti village in Akhmeta district. Because of poor living and social conditions several families abandoned new accommodations and returned to the mountainous Adjara region. The study of the post-accommodation social problems of eco-migrants demonstrated that poor social and living conditions are caused by several reasons; among them are: the houses in new settlement are damaged; mostly settlers have no access to natural gas and drinking water; there is no educational institutions in new settlements and people cannot get employed there. Besides, the study of the complaints filed by the eco-migrants to the Public Defender’s Office showed that most eco-migrants live below poverty level and are registered in the data base for the socially disabled families of the Ministry of Labor, Healthcare and Social Welfare. The current situation demonstrates that the Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees does not properly work out and implement the post-accommodation programs for eco-migrants,” the report states.

Kakheti News Center