Emergency Shelter to close its doors – mothers & children ask for more time
Thirty-six-year-old Nona and her three children have called World Vision’s ‘Emergency Shelter for internally displaced mothers and infants’ home since fleeing their village Zemo Nikozi in the breakaway region of South Ossetia when conflict erupted in August 2008.Nona and her children Luka (9-months), Dimitri (11) and Natia (10) are among thousands of displaced people who sought refuge in shelters in and around the Georgian capital Tbilisi after the conflict.
Hundreds of educational and government buildings were transformed into ‘collective’ centres in August, many lacking the barest essentials like running water, windows for privacy and insulation, and blankets and mattresses.
I came to my house which still stands, but it was only a house - nothing more Nona was among the fortunate mothers who found solace in World Vision’s Infant Shelter, which was established in Tbilisi in 2003 to prevent the abandonment of children due to social and economic pressures.
The Emergency Shelter was initially planned for three months after which time mothers and their children would be able to return to their homes.
After Russian troops withdrew from her village, Nona and her children left the comfortable haven to return home, hoping to resume ‘normal’ life again. But what she found was only an empty shell.
“I came to my house which still stands, but it was only a house - nothing more. Everything was stolen, there are no windows. We received promises from the government about the heating and repair of the house, but nothing has been done yet”, says Nona.
When her nine-month old son consequently contracted a cold, Nona called the Emergency Shelter in desperation.
I cannot imagine how I will say to these mothers that the project is over and they have to leave the shelter “She was crying and asking us to let her come back to the shelter, as she could not provide her children with normal life conditions”, recalls Shelter Manager, Maia Tsereteli.
While many people have been able to return to their homes, just as many face the prospect of spending the coming winter in collective centres without heating and beds.
Funding for World Vision’s Emergency Shelter has been extended until December – after which time the shelter will no longer be able to accommodate displaced mothers and their children.
Fortunately for now, there is a place for Nona and her children. “It is even more difficult for me now, as I know that I can not go back to my house soon. My husband and I don’t have the finances to repair the house and living there is impossible now”, says Nona, who is waiting for promised government assistance.
”This warm atmosphere helped me to overcome all those problems, mothers here do not have to worry about basic needs like a comfortable room, clothes, food and hygiene. We have everything here - this is very important especially in our situation when we are still overcoming the stress we experienced in August”, she adds.
“I cannot imagine how I will say to these mothers that the project is over and they have to leave the shelter. I know the difficult conditions to which they have to return and raise their children,” says the Shelter Manager.
World Vision was one of the first organisations to respond to the urgent needs of mothers and infants displaced by the conflict in South Ossetia.
World Vision is seeking additional funds to keep the shelter open for displaced mothers and their infants for a further six months At present the shelter is accommodating ten mothers and their infants, with some mothers having two infants, ranging from newborns to 40-day-old infants. Since opening, the Emergency Shelter has helped 22 mothers and 35 children. Some mothers have been able to return to their houses, while others like Nona face an uncertain future.
World Vision is seeking additional funds to keep the shelter open for displaced mothers and their infants for a further six months, while new houses are being constructed or rehabilitated by the government.
The organisation is striving to keep the shelter open so that Luka and his siblings can greet the New Year in an atmosphere of warmth and support, surrounded by people who care.
-Ends-
Hundreds of educational and government buildings were transformed into ‘collective’ centres in August, many lacking the barest essentials like running water, windows for privacy and insulation, and blankets and mattresses.
I came to my house which still stands, but it was only a house - nothing more Nona was among the fortunate mothers who found solace in World Vision’s Infant Shelter, which was established in Tbilisi in 2003 to prevent the abandonment of children due to social and economic pressures.
The Emergency Shelter was initially planned for three months after which time mothers and their children would be able to return to their homes.
After Russian troops withdrew from her village, Nona and her children left the comfortable haven to return home, hoping to resume ‘normal’ life again. But what she found was only an empty shell.
“I came to my house which still stands, but it was only a house - nothing more. Everything was stolen, there are no windows. We received promises from the government about the heating and repair of the house, but nothing has been done yet”, says Nona.
When her nine-month old son consequently contracted a cold, Nona called the Emergency Shelter in desperation.
I cannot imagine how I will say to these mothers that the project is over and they have to leave the shelter “She was crying and asking us to let her come back to the shelter, as she could not provide her children with normal life conditions”, recalls Shelter Manager, Maia Tsereteli.
While many people have been able to return to their homes, just as many face the prospect of spending the coming winter in collective centres without heating and beds.
Funding for World Vision’s Emergency Shelter has been extended until December – after which time the shelter will no longer be able to accommodate displaced mothers and their children.
Fortunately for now, there is a place for Nona and her children. “It is even more difficult for me now, as I know that I can not go back to my house soon. My husband and I don’t have the finances to repair the house and living there is impossible now”, says Nona, who is waiting for promised government assistance.
”This warm atmosphere helped me to overcome all those problems, mothers here do not have to worry about basic needs like a comfortable room, clothes, food and hygiene. We have everything here - this is very important especially in our situation when we are still overcoming the stress we experienced in August”, she adds.
“I cannot imagine how I will say to these mothers that the project is over and they have to leave the shelter. I know the difficult conditions to which they have to return and raise their children,” says the Shelter Manager.
World Vision was one of the first organisations to respond to the urgent needs of mothers and infants displaced by the conflict in South Ossetia.
World Vision is seeking additional funds to keep the shelter open for displaced mothers and their infants for a further six months At present the shelter is accommodating ten mothers and their infants, with some mothers having two infants, ranging from newborns to 40-day-old infants. Since opening, the Emergency Shelter has helped 22 mothers and 35 children. Some mothers have been able to return to their houses, while others like Nona face an uncertain future.
World Vision is seeking additional funds to keep the shelter open for displaced mothers and their infants for a further six months, while new houses are being constructed or rehabilitated by the government.
The organisation is striving to keep the shelter open so that Luka and his siblings can greet the New Year in an atmosphere of warmth and support, surrounded by people who care.
-Ends-
Share