Homeless Inhabitants Commence Hunger Strike

Homeless Inhabitants Commence Hunger Strike

 In Gurjaani twelve families remain homeless after the fire on Tavisuphleba Street # 26. Despite the region’s and Kakheti governors’ promise to assist them, the families still live in the resort hostel “Akhtala”. The people, who are living in unbearable conditions for a year now, accuse on the one hand the local government of wasting the charity funds for the rehabilitation and restoration of their houses and on the other hand the investigation for lack of concern. The families threaten to commence a hunger strike.

Nona Bazerashvili is one of those persons who since August 9, 2004 live in a small room of hostel “Akhtala” with her spouse and two kids. ”We live in unbearable conditions. It is damp and stuffy here as the room is only 9 square meters. It is difficult for the children to breath but we have no way out”, says Nona Bazerashvili.

Vera Terteshnikova, who has nothing left after the fire, says that the responsibility lies on the authorities and on the unqualified firefighters. “The fire was caused by a high voltage transmitting line. Several days before the fire, we had complained to the authorities for the quality of the electricity because we could not switch on the TV. The quality was improved but still we continued experiencing problems, therefore we applied for help for the second time on Friday, three days before the accident but no one paid attention to us. On Monday, the fire sparkled on the first floor of the house, where the family of Jadugishvili lives.” 

Fire fighters arrived in two hours time with a small reservoir of water. It turned out to be impossible to extinguish the fire by means of these improper and old technologies.  The local authority with the governor Petre Tsiskarishvili promised to assist the families. It was Akaki Sikharulidze’s first day on duty as the acting head of the local administration.

“All our clothes were burned. We asked the local administration for help but we were told that they have no funds to assist us. As they advised, we took some clothes on the market with the promises to pay them later. The authorities made us beggars. They assisted us only with 100 lari while 80 thousand lari for the restoration of the house that was gathered through charity disappeared altogether. They lie that the funds have already been used for repair works. We consulted a professional builder who stated that the stairs and concrete wall which was fixed could cost only about 25 thousand. The former governor Bidzina Songulashvili has fixed the roof. The windows have been installed by a private enterprise. The new administration does nothing but promises. They have repainted the front walls and improved the building’s appearance. The appearance though cannot help the people living in damp who already complain about high pressure and pneumonia. If it continues to go this way we will start a hunger strike”, says Vera Terteshnikova and the other victims also agree with her.

Akaki Sikharulidze, the acting head of the Gurjaani administration, receives the accusations of the inhabitants with aggression.” These are rumors and provocations. I shall appeal to court and start cases against each person making foul, unreasonable and unproven statements. Enough, saying outright and brazen lies”, threatens Sikharulidze.

According to information of the Building Company “Nika 96”, businessmen gave 6 thousand lari for restoration and repair works of the house.  21 thousand lari was transferred to their account by the Gurjaani administration. “Of course, 27 thousand lari is not enough for the implemented works. The administration is our debtor for about 40 thousand lari”, says the director of company “Nika 96”.

 The Gurjaani Investigation Department started a criminal investigation about the burning down of the house a year ago. But the fact is that the guilty is not yet found.  According to the inhabitants, the documents and the necessary materials for the investigation have also disappeared. Gurjaani Investigation Department does not comment on the issue.

Gela Mtivlishvili