Displaced newborns and mothers face uncertain future
World Vision was one of the first organizations to respond to the urgent need of mothers and infants displaced by the conflict that began in August in one of Georgia’s break away regions, South Ossetia. World Vision expanded the IHT to serve as an emergency shelter to provide sufficient health and social conditions for the newborns and their mothers.
Isabella and her mother, Natia, sought shelter at the IHT three weeks ago, after being displaced to Tbilisi from their home in the conflict zone within South Ossetia. Both have become used to the place, but do not know what will happen in the near future.
“For me this place has become a second home,” Natia said, “but I would like to go back home.”
Unfortunately for the family, their village is not safe to enter yet from Georgia, and reports show that their village as having been looted and burned, so Natia does not know if she even has a home to go to. In addition, she has no information about her husband’s parents who stayed in the village when she left.
The IHT currently is caring for 12 mothers and 15 children who have been displaced. The centre has helped an additional two mothers and two children, who have since been able to return home.
“Some of the mothers have already left and went back to their homes, but the majority of mothers living in our shelter don’t have houses anymore, and none of them have a place where they and their babies can live in normal conditions,” Maia Tsereteli, IHT Project Manager, said.
Though the centre will continue operating, it will return to its regular capacity and work in three months, meaning that ten mothers and newborns will receive shelter and work skills. However, that number does not include those displaced.
Therefore, the displaced persons who need shelter will not be able to stay, unless funding comes though to continue the emergency expansion and relief.
Some displaced new mothers, however, have been more fortunate.
Twin sisters, Ana and Tekle, were born two days after the conflict erupted. Their mother, Nino, managed to leave Gori and headed to Tbilisi, so that she could safely give birth to her daughters.
“Though I did not have a place to stay in Tbilisi, I still came here as it was already very dangerous to stay in Gori,” Nino said; “and I was hoping for God’s help.”
After spending seven days at a maternity home, Nino and her twins had to leave, but had nowhere to stay as none of the IDP centers set up in the city had conditions conducive for newborns or were already overfilled.
Nino’s grandmother, Lia, searched the city for a place and heard from a friend about the IHT’s emergency shelter.
“It was like a miracle to find such a place with so much care and support,” Lia said.
As Russian troops have now left Gori and the area around, the city is now safe to return to. Lia, her daughter and two granddaughters, will be leaving the shelter and will heads back to Gori, after being gone nearly a month.
“I am extremely grateful for the support we have received in this shelter,” Nino said. “I am happy my girls were able to live in very good conditions during this was period.”
As Ana and Tekle make their journey from the shelter to a home they’ve never known, Isabella remains. Natia hopes she will soon be able to pack up and return and take her child to her proper home as well, otherwise in November they will have to leave their “second home” and find another place for support and shelter.
Right now Natia prefers not to think about what will happen in three months. However, the situation is such that there is not much hope for those displaced from South Ossetia of being able to return any time soon to the former conflict zone.
World Vision created the IHT in 2003 as part of its project for the prevention of infant abandonment and deinstitutionalization. Since January 2008, the Mother and Infant Shelter has been financed and operated by the Ministry of Science and Education
Isabella and her mother, Natia, sought shelter at the IHT three weeks ago, after being displaced to Tbilisi from their home in the conflict zone within South Ossetia. Both have become used to the place, but do not know what will happen in the near future.
“For me this place has become a second home,” Natia said, “but I would like to go back home.”
Unfortunately for the family, their village is not safe to enter yet from Georgia, and reports show that their village as having been looted and burned, so Natia does not know if she even has a home to go to. In addition, she has no information about her husband’s parents who stayed in the village when she left.
The IHT currently is caring for 12 mothers and 15 children who have been displaced. The centre has helped an additional two mothers and two children, who have since been able to return home.
“Some of the mothers have already left and went back to their homes, but the majority of mothers living in our shelter don’t have houses anymore, and none of them have a place where they and their babies can live in normal conditions,” Maia Tsereteli, IHT Project Manager, said.
Though the centre will continue operating, it will return to its regular capacity and work in three months, meaning that ten mothers and newborns will receive shelter and work skills. However, that number does not include those displaced.
Therefore, the displaced persons who need shelter will not be able to stay, unless funding comes though to continue the emergency expansion and relief.
Some displaced new mothers, however, have been more fortunate.
Twin sisters, Ana and Tekle, were born two days after the conflict erupted. Their mother, Nino, managed to leave Gori and headed to Tbilisi, so that she could safely give birth to her daughters.
“Though I did not have a place to stay in Tbilisi, I still came here as it was already very dangerous to stay in Gori,” Nino said; “and I was hoping for God’s help.”
After spending seven days at a maternity home, Nino and her twins had to leave, but had nowhere to stay as none of the IDP centers set up in the city had conditions conducive for newborns or were already overfilled.
Nino’s grandmother, Lia, searched the city for a place and heard from a friend about the IHT’s emergency shelter.
“It was like a miracle to find such a place with so much care and support,” Lia said.
As Russian troops have now left Gori and the area around, the city is now safe to return to. Lia, her daughter and two granddaughters, will be leaving the shelter and will heads back to Gori, after being gone nearly a month.
“I am extremely grateful for the support we have received in this shelter,” Nino said. “I am happy my girls were able to live in very good conditions during this was period.”
As Ana and Tekle make their journey from the shelter to a home they’ve never known, Isabella remains. Natia hopes she will soon be able to pack up and return and take her child to her proper home as well, otherwise in November they will have to leave their “second home” and find another place for support and shelter.
Right now Natia prefers not to think about what will happen in three months. However, the situation is such that there is not much hope for those displaced from South Ossetia of being able to return any time soon to the former conflict zone.
World Vision created the IHT in 2003 as part of its project for the prevention of infant abandonment and deinstitutionalization. Since January 2008, the Mother and Infant Shelter has been financed and operated by the Ministry of Science and Education
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