Sozar Subari’s promise was not kept – IDPs wait for the winter with fear

Lado Bichashvili, Shida Kartli 

Former building of the hospital in Gori was assigned to the Ministry of IDPs from Occupied Territories, Refugees and Accommodation for long term accommodation of IDPs in it. Based on the resolution # 320 of the Minister, those IDPs will move to the new building, who lived in horrible conditions in semi-ruined buildings.

The Ministry ordered the expertise of the demolished building to the Levan Samkharauli National Expertise Bureau. Cottages located in Turbaza settlement of Gori were on the list of demolished buildings too.

Building of former hospital will place 62 families, and 40 of them will be from Turbaza settlement. The families living in the settlement reminded the Minister of his promise and terms of resettlement. 

Nargiza Mamisashvili, IDP: “We live in horrible conditions. The water leaks into our rooms and we live in the damp building for four months already. They promised to resettle us into the new building late in September or early in October. Now everything is stopped and nobody pays attention to us. If we stay here in winter, we will get frozen. We have not bought firewood either.”

Nodar Bochoradze, IDP: “Winter is coming. We live in wooden huts, which are collapsing. It is as cold inside as outside. We do not have firewood and will get frozen in winter. They promise much but do nothing.”

Rehabilitation of the former hospital building in Tsmindatskali settlement of Gori stopped two months ago. The Ministry of IDPs state the reason of the suspended works is violation of contract requirements by the building company.

Head of regional department at the Ministry Tamaz Gvimradze said the Ministry ceased contract with the company because of poorly done job and announced second bid for the rehabilitation of the building.

Tamaz Gvimradze, head of the regional department at the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation: “The Ministry was compelled to drop contract with the company, because it did not follow the contract requirements – work was partly and poorly done. The bid was re-announced and we are waiting for the new applicant company, which will renew construction activities and will finish the work soon.”

Sozar Subari visited Shida Kartli region to learn problems of local IDPs on the very first day he was appointed to the position of the Minister.  The Minister first arrived in Turbaza settlement. IDPs have lived there for 24 years and during the visit Sozar Subari promised them to resettle several families to the former building of hospital. Several days later, the ongoing rehabilitation works stopped there.