Flood in Zugdidi District

On 2 November, incessant rain resulted into the rise of River Enguri. In the villages of Khurcha, Shamgona, Ganmukhuri the water reached critical level and flooded the river-bed. It flooded plots, cornfields and nut-groves of local people. Mostly damaged are the people from the village of Ganmukhuri. The river has destroyed houses of Guram Akhalaia and Shalva Gabisonia. Villagers watched the river rise whole night to escape in the case of emergency. However the Akhalaias and Gabisonias could not manage to save their furniure. Flooded river left them without house. 

In the aforementioned villages, Ianur Mikava, Chief of Melioration Department [which was to carry out shoring-up works] and Individual Entrepreneur Iasha Fazhava were detained by Financial Police because they implemented aforementioned activities only on the paper.

Victim Guram Akhalia has thirty-eight-year-old disabled daughter and his family has found temporary shelter at their relatives'.

According to villagers, thirty-two families from Ganmukhuri face the same danger. Soso Pertaia, one of the villagers stated the following: "We have not seen such flood for a long time. The river bank has not been shored up since the Soviet Regime. Nobody assists us. The whole country has learned about the fact but representatives from the Authority have not visited the place yet."

Davit Akhalaia stated: "We have applied to the District Administrative Board, Village Council but nobody paid attention to us. We wonder what they would say, when they come."

Soso Sajaia, member of the newly elected village council of Ganmukhuri stated the following: "We are fully aware of every problem the village faces. Shoring-up river bank is one of our prior activities. The work will start today, though it should have been done long before. The person who appropriated state funds is detained."

Zugdidi District Administrative Board Chairman Vakhtang Tskhadaia stated to us: "We have arrived at the scene. All necessary measures will be taken to avoid further difficulties. In addition to this, we will give some essential things and food products to the Akhalaias and Gabisonias."

V. Tskhadaia was the only person from the Local Government to visit Ganmukhuri. On November 3, victims of the flood and those who face the same danger [fifteen persons] gathered in front of the Zugdidi District Administrative Board at 16:00. Their two representatives met Zugdidi District Governor, Ruslan Kilasonia. The meeting lasted several minutes and it caused discontent of the victim Guram Akhalia's wife and their relatives.

Nona Akhalaia: "Vakhtang Tskhadaia promised to give something to us but I do not believe him; as we have been deceived for twelve years already. Neighbors saved my disabled daughter. I do not trust them, even if they say the truth."

Nona Akhalaia made quite a ‘loud’ statement that she would nail up the doors of District Governor, Aleksandre Kobalia and his deputies Tengiz Shanava and Ruslan Kilasonia if they do not keep their promise: "I have a hammer and nail here, and if I do not receive my compensation on Monday, I will nail their doors up. Then I will do the same with Gorozia's door [Zaza Gorozia, Special Representative of President in Samegrelo]."

Several minutes later Akhalaias and their neighbors went towards Governor's office, but having learned he was not in the office villagers postponed their visit for several days.

We got interested what kind of aid Zugdidi District Deputy Governor Ruslan Akhalaia promised the Akhalaias. Our meeting was short and he answered only one question:

-What kind of aid can you offer to the victim family?

-Any kind support should be agreed upon in Tbilisi. We can provide aid only once that is apportioning 200 GEL and essential things for each family, said R. Kilasonia.

Kilasonia did not answer our question, whether the victim families receive compensation, saying he was busy.

In the case if the Government does not grant compensations to the families living in destroyed and dangerous area, villagers threaten to hold protest demonstrations.

Nato Berulava,Zugdidi