Recognising that the COVID-19 pandemic poses development threats to society and hits the most vulnerable, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a five-month initiative aimed at assisting up to 5,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in 100 collective centres in Georgia’s Shida Kartli, Imereti and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regions.

With USD 60,000 in funding from UNDP’s global Rapid Response Facility, the project is being run in partnership with the Georgian Charity Humanitarian Centre “Abkhazeti” (CHCA).

“Internally displaced persons are at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, especially those who live in crowded collective centres with limited access to water, sanitation and healthcare services,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton. “We are providing immediate aid to the most vulnerable IDP communities, in an effort to ensure that older people and those with health issues are not left behind in preparedness and response to the crisis.”

Since April 2020, UNDP has assessed the needs of the selected collective centres and kicked off a series of activities to assist their residents. 3,000 information flyers and 500 posters have been distributed, informing internally displaced persons about coronavirus threats and preventive measures. Indoor and outdoor premises of the centres have been disinfected and protective gear and sanitary supplies, including masks and sanitisers, have been provided to the residents.

In the coming months, UNDP will continue to assist economically vulnerable IDP families, supplying them with food and hygiene kits. Up to 70 extremely vulnerable older people living on their own will receive home-care services that will be provided by the Charity Humanitarian Centre “Abkhazeti” directly or through the respective state and non-state service providers.

In addition, UNDP will provide assistance the recently established Multi-Sectoral Coordination Platform, which was established to coordinate the COVID-19 response in the IDP collective centres and address the most pressing challenges faced by IDP communities.  

Assistance to internally displaced persons is part of UNDP’s wider response to the pandemic. It echoes the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring that response and recovery “leave no one behind,” especially the poor and vulnerable.

Media contact:

Sophie Tchitchinadze, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org, +995 599 196907