Georgia/Abkhazia: New agreement on aid
16-06-2003 News Release 03/70
The ICRC has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Abkhaz health authorities on the continuation of food aid throughout the region in 2003.
The memorandum establishes a comprehensive framework for joint efforts to ensure that nearly 20,000 of the most destitute and otherwise vulnerable residents of Abkhazia are provided with food and other basic items. It also provides for the gradual transfer of responsibilities from the ICRC to the Abkhaz authorities.
On the basis of the agreement, the ICRC will continue its support for programmes enabling some 5,000 mostly elderly destitute persons to receive freshly cooked meals every day at 19 fixed and eight mobile canteens. In addition, 1,450 homebound and often bedridden elderly people receive ready-made meals daily from 480 social workers who also monitor their living conditions in terms of basic hygiene. Meanwhile, some 2,700 particularly vulnerable people living in rural areas will continue to receive parcels of dry food once a month covering 100% of their nutritional needs, while nearly 11,500 residents only partially able to fend for themselves will receive food parcels covering 50% of their nutritional needs every two months.
The ICRC has had a constant presence in Georgia/Abkhazia since 1992, where it has endeavoured to protect and assist the victims of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. Since 1994, the organization has distributed food and other basic necessities and provided medical and other care for the residents and displaced people most in need.
Further information:
Zurab Burduli, ICRC Tbilisi, tel. ++99 532 93 55 11
Annick Bouvier, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++41 22 730 24 58