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Problem of Fire-wood in the Villages of Conflict Zone

December 26, 2012
Levan Sepiskveradze, Shida Kartli

Population of Georgian villages bordering with Tskhinvali region has been scared by upcoming winters particularly after the armed conflict in 2008. Similar to other occupied territories, forests in the conflict zone are beyond Georgian jurisdiction and big part of Shida Kartli residents remain without fire-wood in winter.

Winters of 2008 and 2009 were easier for local peasants. In 2008, German government allocated special grant for Georgian villages in Tskhinvali district. In winter of 2009 the government of Georgia supplied locals with fire-wood. But, local population has had to cope with cold with their sources for the last three winters.

Gogi Bashalashvili, resident of Khviti village: “After the war, forests of our Gorge appeared in the occupied territory and we cannot collect wood there. Several villages were supplied with gas but tax is so high that many families could not afford it and Distribution Company cut them off. We purchase firewood mostly in Gori. 5-6 years ago, Gori residents used to buy firewood in our villages. A family needs firewood of about 600-700 lari to go through winter. People are unemployed and they cannot collect so much money. Locals have already cut down trees in the grove; now several families started to destroy their fences. There is no other way.”

Although first armed conflict in Tskhinvali region occurred early in 1990s, local ethnic Georgian peasants managed to reach the headwaters of the Liakhvi and Prone Rivers and fetch firewood from there. After 2008 war it has become too risky to go there.  
   
There are large forests in the region and Java Forest is the largest of all; it is stretched till Racha region of Georgia. Liakhvi Forest Reserve is located in the upper part of Large Liakhvi Gorge, which is known with its unique flora and fauna. So called Tsvnelisi forest and Znauri forest are located in the outflow of the Prone Ravine. The forest located in the Small Liakhvi Gorge is stretched till Akhalgori district and Russian military engineers have turned it into roundabout. 

In 2006-2007 government of Georgia, with the financial support of the World Bank, installed pipes of natural air in Georgian villages of the lower part of the Liakhvi River and already destroyed villages of Large Liakhvi Gorge; they installed gas system in the families. Villages of so-called upper part of Shida Kartli region have never been supplied with gas before and locals hoped they would not have to bother about firewood in winter.

However, IDP Mevlud Kristesiashvili from Large Liakhvi Gorge said their expectations failed.

Mevlud Kristesiashvili, IDP: “They installed gas system but tax was too high. In 2004, when Irakli Okruashvili almost started war, we could not export products to Russia and we did not have money to fund our transportation. So, we again rely on the firewood. However, before situation escalated, almost every family in the region earned enough money to buy firewood. Of course, gas is better because it does not cause mess in the house and is easy to use. But when we do not have money, we have to collect branches in the forest.”

Population of Liakhvi and Prone Gorges hope the new government will manage to supply them with cheap firewood next years. This year, they do not except any help because they say, Georgian Dream has just come in power and will need one year to arrange everything. Next year, the Gorge population will request more attention and support from them.

Chief specialist Besarion Genelidze at the Natural Resources Agency within the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources told humanrights.ge that Ministry of IDPs from Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees has already sent letter to them which lists problems of the conflict zone. Gelenidze said the Ministry already works on this issue.

Besarion Gelenidze: “Our agency has already started working on this issue. The Ministry of IDPs sent letter to us; according to the data provided in it we will soon work out a plan how to assist people living in the conflict zone and nearby. I hope the problem of firewood will be resolved by all means.”

It is too cold in the region and many locals sent their children to the capital to relatives; they hope next year they will warm houses and spend winter with children.

Ossetian people living on the other side of demarcation line also face similar problems this summer. Part of ethnic Ossetian population, who live in Tskhinvali, has not complained about electricity and gas supply for the last two years. However, situation is completely different in the villages, particularly in Znauri district where there are more than enough forests but people have problems in electricity supply. Situation gets particularly bad during heavy snow. Last year, in winter of 2011, electricity wires damaged in the Ossetian villages in Prone Gorge because of heavy snow and locals were not supplied with electricity during two months.

Akhalgori is the only district with Georgian inhabitants in the conflict zone where locals have fewer problems in collecting firewood. However, the district is supplied with electricity according to the schedule. Georgian people reside together with Ossetian people in Akhalgori district and they do not have serious problem in communication. No ethnic conflict occurred in Akhalgori district in 1991, 1992, 2004 and 2008.

“Of course, we live here under fear. They constructed three Russian bases and nobody knows what will happen. However, we have never had problems with Ossetian people. We are relatives of each other and still continue cooperation. There is one problem, I live on the central road and permanently watch Russian tanks move around that is not pleasant,” said local resident.

Akhalgori district residents collect firewood mostly in the forests of Ksani Gorge and Small Liakhvi Gorge. If locals show permits issued by de-facto government of South Ossetia, Russian soldiers allow Georgian people to collect firewood. However, nobody knows how long this peaceful life continues. 

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