OCHA-Georgia Information Bulletin for the period 21-31 Jan 2003

Feature:
IRC Implements Shelter, Water and Sanitation Project for IDPs

IRC's newly approved Shelter, Water, and Sanitation Project for IDPs in Samegrelo region, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), aims to promote and improve the integration of IDPs into the host community of Anaklia in the Samegrelo region, improve their living conditions and improve access to economic, educational and social opportunities. In addition, a self-identified community project will benefit the local residents and the IDP beneficiaries. All this will be accomplished through the construction of 26 houses for 26 families (118 people) currently occupying dilapidated summer cottages located close to Black Sea.

The implementation of the self-identified and designed community development project by members of a newly formed Community-Based Organisation (CBO), comprised of local Anaklia and IDP families, will benefit approximately 644 people. This jointly implemented project will serve dual purposes, that of further ensuring the integration of the IDPs into the host community while providing a necessary service to all residents.

A third component of this project aims to provide potable water and adequate sanitation facilities to 364 IDP and local families (1,884 individuals) residing at the former Ingiri Tea Agro-Industrial complex in the Samegrelo region. Raw sewage, overflowing toilets and garbage bins, and damaged water pipes and wells characterise the current situation in this village, contributing to waterborne hosts of bacterial illnesses.

To address these problems, project interventions will include rehabilitation of the current water supply system, construction of new latrines and sewage system, and provision of garbage bins.

For more information, please contact IRC at irctb@gol.ge.

Sectors:

Assistance to the Vulnerable

With funding from SDC, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) will distribute firewood to the vulnerable population in South Ossetia. The contributed firewood and stoves will help the vulnerable population to survive during the harsh winter in South Ossetia. During three months, ADRA will assist 250 vulnerable families with US$ 50 (2 cubic meters) worth of firewood per family. Approximately 40 firewood stoves will be replaced or repaired for vulnerable families.

ADRA will carry out targeting, distribution and monitoring of firewood distribution in cooperation with local authorities, which will supply vehicles for distribution and provide other assistance, as needed.

Security

On 28 January 2003, a car belonging to an international organisation was hijacked in Kutaisi, Imereti. On 29 January, the car was found in nearby village in good conditions.

According to the Statistical Review of 2002 by the State Department of Statistics, 16,665 crimes were registered in 2002 in Georgia. This is 996 (6,4%) more than in 2001.

HIV/AIDS

According to the data provided by the AIDS, Infection Pathology and Clinical Immunology Research Centre, the total registered number of HIV/AIDS cases in Georgia since 1989 equals 391. Among them 55 are women. In January 2003, 16 new cases were identified, compared to January 2001, when only 6 cases were registered. In January 2003, 2 persons died. The increase in new cases is quite significant. The centre warns about the possibility of an epidemic, as the unofficial number of the infected is estimated to be 2,000-3000 cases.

Healthcare

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation (KtK) supports women who have been affected by war and conflict. The organisation works to help war-affected women to recover both physically and psychologically, to empower women and support them to participate in the rebuilding of a democratic society.

KtK started its activities in 2002 in Georgia. With financial assistance of KtK, the Democrat Women for Samtskhe-Javakheti, a local NGO, established a gynecological clinic in Akhaltsikhe. The pilot project ends in June 2003 but it is expected that the project will be extended for at least another year. The probable continuation will focus more on preventive reproductive health care and contraceptives.

For more information, please contact Ms. Marina Modebadze. Address: 9 Tbilisi St., Akhaltsikhe, Georgia; Tel.: 899 54 83 44.

Announcements:

Save the Children is pleased to announce the Advocacy.Ge website mailing list which is effective as of 3 February 2003.

The Advocacy List will facilitate timely and efficient dissemination of relevant information concerning advocacy efforts of Georgian non-governmental and civil society organisations. Such information may include announcements about organisations involved in the advocacy activities, relevant projects, advocacy resources (print and electronic), case studies, upcoming events, and other matters of interest to the NGO/CSO community. Also, the listserv will inform subscribers of updates at the Advocacy.Ge website. Information on the website is presented in English.

The listserv and the Advocacy.Ge website are activities of the Citizens Advocate! Program. This program is funded by USAID and implemented by Save the Children (SC/US); United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG); the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG); Caucasus Institute of Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD); Georgian Business Law Center (GBLC); Public Information Center "Alternative" (PICA); Partners for Democratic Change, Georgia (PG); and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). The listserv will be managed by Save the Children.

Save the Children invites all participants, especially those working in Georgia, to submit information for posting. However, Save the Children reserves the right to edit or reject submitted materials if the content does not coincide with the main goals of the listserv.

To subscribe to the listserv, send an e-mail request to: list@advocacy.ge with Advocacy List in the subject line, and subscribe Advocacy List in the message body. Subscription will be reviewed and a confirmation letter sent to your e-mail address.

To post to the list, send your email to: list@advocacy.ge

If you have any questions and/or comments, please, contact Save the Children at sophie@advocacy.ge or sophie@save.org.ge.

Produced by OCHA Georgia.

For more information, please contact Ms. Maka Esaiashvili, Information Officer
Tel/Fax: 995-32-959516; Tel: 995-32-943163; e-mail: unocha@unocha.org.ge

Contributions are welcome and should reach OCHA, 9 Eristavi St., Tbilisi by 12.00 hrs. on 9th 19th, and 29th of each month