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Georgia

Georgia: Flash Floods 2023 - DREF Final Report (MDRGE017)

Attachments

Description of the Event

Date of event

16-07-2023

What happened, where and when?

Starting on 16 June 2023, a month-long series of sporadic storms, heavy rainfall, and flash floods heavily impacted 15 municipalities across six regions of Georgia. The storm-affected regions span a variety of landscapes, from seaside urban areas to high mountainous rural settlements. The disaster significantly affected both rural and urban areas, causing extensive damage to agriculture, residential properties, and infrastructure.

In rural areas, the agricultural sector experienced bigger losses, with floods damaging fields, destroying crops, and killing livestock. Agriculture is a crucial source of subsistence and income for most households in the affected regions. Additionally, residential houses suffered significant damage to roofs and ground floors, which typically serve as the main living and storage areas. Media footage depicted floodwaters reaching up to one meter high in several municipalities, swamping the rooms, and damaging furniture and electronics, particularly in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region.

Urban areas also experienced severe disruptions due to the heavy rainfall, with central streets and ground floors of buildings flooding. Transportation and mobility were heavily impacted, with roads destroyed, fallen trees blocking routes, and vital infrastructure such as bridges and power transmission towers damaged. Some municipalities endured gas and electricity outages for more than a day, and the Kutaisi International Airport was forced to suspend operations for several hours.

Georgia's lower-middle-income status made the impact of the disaster even worse. According to national statistics, one in five people who live in rural areas are below the poverty line, making these communities especially vulnerable to disasters of such nature. Additionally, disparities in access to public infrastructure and services between rural and urban areas make recovery efforts more complicated, especially in remote and mountainous regions.

The early-recovery process required comprehensive efforts to address immediate needs, including shelter, clean water, food, and medical assistance. Repairing and rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, was crucial for restoring connectivity and facilitating economic recovery. Long-term efforts were required to support the agricultural sector and assist affected households in rebuilding their livelihoods through financial and agricultural assistance. This required collaboration between the authorities,
humanitarian organizations, and local communities. In the first days of the disaster, the Government of Georgia established a special commission to assess the damage and coordinate recovery efforts across the affected regions. The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, along with regional and local municipalities, took over the responsibility of cleaning the affected areas and restoring damaged areas and infrastructure.

Recognizing the significant impact on livelihoods and the focus of public authorities on infrastructural recovery, the Georgian Red Cross Society (GRCS) stepped in to provide Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) to 2,800 households in the affected regions, ensuring that the most vulnerable people received essential support to cover the costs for the most essential needs in their households.