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IDPs from Abkhazia Are Offered Accommodations in Tuberculosis Hospital

March 12, 2007

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Local authority in Kakheti is going to evict IDPs residing in the area of the resort house of Akhtala. Twenty nine families live in the area and the reason for their eviction is the construction of new district hospital in its place. The local authority offers the IDPs to move to the building of the hospital. In several days tuberculosis center should be placed in one part of that hospital.

Last week, the information about future eviction of the IDPs from the Gurjaani based resort house Akhtala, was spread by the Municipality Governor. Representatives of the regional non-governmental organizations met the Governor Ramaz Kerechashvili, who stated that the municipality tries to start negotiations with IDPs in vain. They wanted the IDPs to leave the resort house.

“You might know that the question of building a regional hospital in Gurjaani is nearly settled. French investors are going to build a medical diagnostic center in its place and some more medical institutions will be arranged there as well. We decided to use the area for future constructions that will be carried out by the Ministry of healthcare; however, the IDPs refuse to leave the place. We offered them to move to the building of the present district hospital. We also offered them that if they wished we could register those places on them, though they refuse everything. They demand compensation for eviction. We cannot compensate them all and please help us to persuade the IDPs to leave the resort house,” said the Governor at the meeting to the representatives of NGOs.

Representatives of the NGO “Human Rights Center’ said in their conversation, that they appreciate the initiative of the authority to open a district hospital in Gurjaani. It is the most convenient area for the population from all Kakheti districts. However, they said that it must not be done at the expense of the IDPs.

“Under the Georgian Law on IDPs, Article 5, the IDPs must not be evicted from their shelters, unless they are offered with alternative accommodation or compensation. There is also a governmental resolution, state strategy regarding the IDPs under which living conditions of these people must not be worsened in the case of eviction. In this particular case, the building in the area of the resort-house of Akhtala is a state property and IDPs reside in it. Thus, the government should provide the IDPs with corresponding assistance. In fact, the government offers those people quite unacceptable conditions,” said Lia Khuroshvili, a lawyer for the Human Rights Center.

Gia Natsvlishvili, a president’s representative to the Kakheti Region confirms the fact that a new hospital should be built in the place where IDPs live now. “That territory is the best to build a new hospital. Resort Akhtala surrounds the building; a Georgian- French Center is situated nearby and is a perfect place for regional hospital. Everything will be agreed upon. We will give the IDPs alternative accommodations,” said Kakheti regional Governor.

Though the question is settled by the authority, IDPs are not going to leave the place. They said that they would never agree with the government to move to the building of present hospital. “What kind of conditions are they going to create for us? They are deceiving us according to their wish. How can a person live in the building of a hospital? Moreover, it is located far from the town center. Besides that the building is too cold and it is impossible to heat it. The ceiling is nearly collapsed.  The rain leaks in the building and reaches even the ground floor. The walls are damp. Rats are running around in the building because of great mess in it. In several days they are going to open a tuberculosis center in one part of that building.  The center was removed from its old place on the basis of people’s complaints, which lived around it. And we, socially excluded people, with poor health should face the danger of getting tuberculosis there?” the furious IDPs said and they are not going to leave the place until the government gives them proper alternative accommodations or compensate them. The compensation sum should be 7-10 thousand USD.

If situation is aggravated and they are forced to leave the building, IDPs threaten to hold demonstrations and start hanger strikes.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti  

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