The program of providing shelter and food to Ukrainian citizens has ended, says Tbilisi City Hall
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
The program of providing shelter and food to Ukrainian citizens living in Tbilisi has ended, Tbilisi City Hall media representatives release the information. According to them, for this purpose, 14 million GEL was spent from the budget of the capital city.
Representatives of Tbilisi City Hall told the media that instead of the previously announced one month, the program lasted more than four months.
According to the decision of the Government of Georgia, from July 15 of this year, a socio-economic support program was launched for Ukrainian citizens living in Georgia, within the framework of which, 300 GEL per family and 45 GEL per family member will be given per month.
"As for the free municipal services available to Ukrainian refugees in Tbilisi, free travel by public transport, services of municipal kindergartens, art and sports schools are still valid.", Tbilisi City Hall representatives say.
Chairman of the Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, said regarding the government's aid to Ukrainian refugees, that depending on the resources, certain types of aid could not continue indefinitely, and the government "had to make this decision at a critical stage."
"The situation is difficult in all countries. The state has done many things and will do many things in the future. Appropriate and serious compensations will be given to these persons, however, depending on the resources, certain types of assistance could not continue indefinitely, therefore, the government had to make this decision at a certain stage." - said Irakli Kobakhidze.
The Minister of Health, Zurab Azarashvili, called the politicians who criticize the authorities for evicting Ukrainian refugees from the hotels 'provokers'.
On July 31, the program of accommodation of Ukrainian refugees in a hotel in Georgia ended. Accordingly, on August 1, they left the places where they lived until now. Their stay in the hotel was financed by the local governments, and from now on the assistance of the refugees is under the authority of the Ministry of Health.
Today, the leader of the Droa Party, Elene Khoshtaria, said that the eviction of Ukrainian refugees from hotels and the termination of the funding program is a hostile move. She found shelter for 300 Ukrainians with the help of businesses and volunteers. 800 people remain to be accommodated.
The government will pay 300 GEL per Ukrainian family and 45 GEL individually.
According to the Minister of Health, refugees have already been taken out of most of the hotels.
"Employees of the Agency for IDPs visited these 40 hotels for 3 weeks and opened accounts for all the refugees who were registered and filled out the relevant applications, in agreement with the bank, and they have already registered the appropriate assistance for all of them. It is a speculation that we are leaving the refugees out on the street, and this is not really the case. Within the limits of these funds, housing is offered in different regions. Our employees searched for such housings," said Azarashvili.
