"I have not come down for 12 years" – ID...

"I have not come down for 12 years" – IDPs in Tskaltubo

Natela Kopaliani has not been able to leave her room for 12 years. At 81 years old, she has lived in a former sanatorium since 1992 and has had many problems.

"Years ago, I had a stroke and have had difficulty moving ever since. I lost the use of my arm and my leg as a result. My daughters live in Tbilisi, and I need medicine, but my pension and social assistance cannot meet my needs… I worry that everyone is tired of dealing with my problems and I worry that everyone hates me because of it. I want to die, but I will not die."

Natela is one of the IDPs from Abkhazia who have been living in this former sanitorium for 28 years. The Collective Center houses 120 families, and the living conditions are harsh. The elevator in the building does not work, and the families live in small studio apartments. Natela lives with her grandson, who is unemployed. Despite her worries, her grandson and her neighbours have tried their best to take care of her.

"When the pandemic started, my grandson gave me the only mask that he had. Even though I want to die, he jokes that he will keep his grandmother for life."
CHCA Staff surveyed vulnerable groups living in 100 IDP Collective Centres in Samegrelo, Imereti, and Shida Kartli. According to the preliminary results of the research, elderly residents who live alone are unable to meet basic needs, and people with reduced mobility are isolated from the outside world; which is due to multi-story buildings being inaccessible to disabled people.

The United Nations Development Program is funding this research as part of a larger project, COVID-19 Prevention and Response in the IDP Collective Centres in Georgia, and CHCA is the implementing partner.

KUTAISI
Tel.: + 995 431 24 16 51
E-mail: kutaisi@chca.org.ge

TBILISI
Tel.: +995 571 721 721
E-mail: pm@chca.org.ge

GORI
Tel.: +995 370 27 34 84
E-mail: gori@chca.org.ge

ZUGDIDI
Tel.: +995 415 25 19 21
E-mail: zugdidi@chca.org.ge

Where We Work

Georgian CHCA