World Vision assists with First Humanitarian aid to Gori as relief efforts continue in the Georgian capital

World Vision Georgia Press-Release

by Dwayne Mamo, World Vision Georgia Communications Manager

TBILISI August, 18 – On August 15, World Vision, in a coordinated delivery with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Georgian Ministry of Finance, sent 10-day food supplies to 1,000 people in Gori, as part of the first humanitarian aid convoy to reach the affected people after almost a week of no outside assistance. 

“Gori has been a no-go zone since the conflict began, so we know those people who have remained are in dire conditions,” David Womble, National Director of World Vision Georgia, said. “We hope access will go smoothly, so we can increase the amount of urgent items we deliver to this conflict area.”

To date, World Vision has delivered food to over 8,500 of the displaced in 31 centers, and non-food items to nearly 2,000 in 13 collection centers.

World Vision plans to help over 45,000 displaced persons in 315 collection centers, approximately 50% of the total of affected persons as Tbilisi continues feeling the wave of the estimated 100,000 displaced persons in Georgia.

“World Vision Georgia already had a good-size program before this crisis happened, and we have developed an immediate plan for the next 30 days,” Steffen Horstmeier, Relief Operations Manager, said. “We will continue to serve as many people affected by this crisis as we can, and will resume the other programs we had in place before this crisis as soon as possible.”

Food, non-food items, and health remain the priorities for the immediate term, and these will be the focus of World Vision’s response. The needs are growing exponentially, however, making planning very challenging. World Vision is being looked to, however, as one of the lead NGOs in responsiveness, and anticipates scaling up its response accordingly, pending resources.

World Vision continues to work in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), WFP and the Georgian Ministry for Refugees and Accommodation, to provide assistance in Tbilisi and outside the capital.

World Vision started working with Georgians in 1994 – a critical year when most of the population began suffering severe gas, electricity and heating shortages. World Vision Georgia’s first programme, Small Enterprise Education & Development, provided business training and small grants to fledgling private businesses in Tbilisi and Rustavi. World Vision also provided emergency food relief and critical Gift-in-Kind items such as winter clothing and shoes to vulnerable populations, especially children, in the Tbilisi area.

Fourteen years later, World Vision has a significant and growing presence in Georgia, with a mixture of relief, rehabilitation and development initiatives implemented both directly and via local partners across the country. World Vision has offices in Tbilisi, Akhaltsikhe, Kutaisi, and Telavi, and is one of few international organizations with strong representation and programming in Abkhazia.