Georgia. A hushed elegy.
41 images Created 22 Dec 2016
During its short history of independence Georgia, former republic of the Soviet Union, experienced three severe military conflicts on the own territory. During these conflicts thousands of people were killed from the both sides, hundreds thousands – exiled, and two regions – Abkhazia and South Ossetia - separated de facto from Georgia and now they are trying to gain formal independence since breaking away in the early 1990s.
As a result of this political event, after the Abkhazian civil war (1992-1993), some 250,000 Georgians were obliged to abandon their homes and livelihoods in Abkhazia. Most of them left by sea, but others fled over land, across the mountains of Svaneti, where many of them, around 30,000, died in the difficult climatic conditions. Abkhazia was a rich and prosperous region before the conflict, many of the Georgian families who left were well-off and belonged to the élite classes.
They were displaced into Georgia proper, part of them, approximately 44 %, were given temporary shelter by the Government (so called collective centers – former public buildings: hostel, hospitals, shops, hotels, kindergartens), majority are living in private accommodation, with friends, relatives, are renting the dwellings.
The refugees were obliged to accept a radical change in their life-style, leaving behind them not only their material possessions but also something even more important: what had given a meaning to their existence, going to live in run-down hovels lacking basic services for subsistence such as supply of water, gas and heating.
The main problems of refugees are related with lack of possibility to return to their native lands, high unemployment, lack of proper shelter, lack of opportunities to be included in the development process. Refugees still suffer from uncured psychological trauma, exclusion and stigmatization. The health status of both, refugees and local population is poor, children are starving from malnutrition.
The refugees community requires more attention, understanding and compassion to realize the main aim – to provide this people with the opportunity to live in dignity and safety, to build their lives.
As a result of this political event, after the Abkhazian civil war (1992-1993), some 250,000 Georgians were obliged to abandon their homes and livelihoods in Abkhazia. Most of them left by sea, but others fled over land, across the mountains of Svaneti, where many of them, around 30,000, died in the difficult climatic conditions. Abkhazia was a rich and prosperous region before the conflict, many of the Georgian families who left were well-off and belonged to the élite classes.
They were displaced into Georgia proper, part of them, approximately 44 %, were given temporary shelter by the Government (so called collective centers – former public buildings: hostel, hospitals, shops, hotels, kindergartens), majority are living in private accommodation, with friends, relatives, are renting the dwellings.
The refugees were obliged to accept a radical change in their life-style, leaving behind them not only their material possessions but also something even more important: what had given a meaning to their existence, going to live in run-down hovels lacking basic services for subsistence such as supply of water, gas and heating.
The main problems of refugees are related with lack of possibility to return to their native lands, high unemployment, lack of proper shelter, lack of opportunities to be included in the development process. Refugees still suffer from uncured psychological trauma, exclusion and stigmatization. The health status of both, refugees and local population is poor, children are starving from malnutrition.
The refugees community requires more attention, understanding and compassion to realize the main aim – to provide this people with the opportunity to live in dignity and safety, to build their lives.
