World Refugee Day brings together IDPs in Gori

On 20 June 2012 the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia, Koba Subeliani; the Governor of the Shida Kartli Region, Giorgi Tatishvili and the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Georgia, Simone Wolken, took part in a special event during World Refugee Day in Gori, Shida Kartli.

World Refugee Day, which is marked annually worldwide on June 20, is the day that the UNHCR would like the world to remember the more than 33 million people who are among the most vulnerable on the planet.

Many of these people live here in Georgia, relying on protection, support and humanitarian assistance provided by the government of Georgia, local authorities and the international community. They are hoping for a better future.

“We have rehabilitated and privatized many collective centres, constructed new apartment blocks and relocated IDP families from collapsing infrastructure in disrepair, constructed new settlements and distributed land plots to [them]. The process continues and we realize that many people still remain living in poor conditions. The most important issue now is to create dignified living conditions for IDPs until they are able to return, to enable them to cultivate land, get involved in agricultural activities, gain income and become self-reliant. All of us – the government, donors, and partner organizations have to continue working to achieve this,” says Koba Subeliani.

This year the main World Refugee Day event will take place in Gori. The official event was opened with brief speeches from Subeliani, Giorgi Tatishvili and Simone Wolken.

Local children created a painting on a wall in Akhalbaghi Park which included the message “Living in Dignity – Awaiting a Dignified Return.” In conjunction with this, a football tournament among nine Shida Kartli settlements for IDPs will take place, as well as the exhibition and sale of handicrafts and other goods produced by IDPs. The event will be concluded with a concert performed by the winners from Geo Star.

“Everybody needs a home and a sense of belonging. Everybody needs the care of family and the community. Many displaced persons have lost this. It is up to the government, the international community, civil society and the displaced themselves to reestablish what makes life worth living. The UNHCR is committed to working with all concerned parties to find viable solutions to the challenges IDPs face and help them return to their homes.

On World Refugee Day, I congratulate all IDPs on the way they are building new lives and contributing to the future of Georgia,” says Ms. Simone Wolken.

The Coalition for Justice (CFJ) will also join the UNHCR Georgia in celebrating World Refugee Day 2012 in Gori. On this important day, CFJ will host a photo exhibition in Akhalbaghi Park, Gori, where all the other activities will take place. The exhibition features photos of IDPs from Abkhazia and South Ossetia taken by Mr.Guram Tsibakhashvili, a renowned Georgian photographer. The exhibition puts a human face on the problem of displacement in Georgia and is a reminder that hundreds of thousands of IDPs in Georgia still can’t return to their homes.

On the same day a smaller event took place in Duisi, Pankisi Valley, where most of the Chechen Refugees from the Russian Federation in Georgia reside. The event was opened with a brief speech from UNHCR Deputy Christoph Bierwirth, who is a representative in Georgia. Children will have championships in Chidaoba (Georgian Wrestling), chess and football. There will be horse racing, an exhibition/sale of handicrafts and other goods made by refugees, and a concert performed by local ensembles.

The UNHCR would like to express its gratitude to all parties involved in the organization of the event, especially the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia, the Office of the Shida Kartli Governor, Georgian Football Federation (GFF), Charity Humanitarian Centre Abkhazeti (CHCA) and Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG).

The UNHCR addresses the protection and assistance needs of some 276,000 persons of concern in Georgia which includes more than 270,000 IDPs, around 1,500 stateless persons and 450 refugees.