UMCOR Georgia: Bringing Warmth and Relief

The Kosantia family with blankets they received from UMCOR. Credit: UMCOR

The Kosantia family is just one of many who received warm blankets and other necessities through a recent effort led by UMCOR to supply items such as blankets to internally displaced people living in Western Georgia.

Their story is like that of many displaced people in Georgia. They were forced to flee their home in 1992 because of ethnic conflict and a civil war in Abkhazia. Parents and five children escaped to the forest when violence broke out in their village. They now live with relatives in Tskaltubo a community of internally displaced people, one of 120 such communities in Western Georgia. These communities consist of structures that were renovated many years ago to be used as temporary homes but are now being used for long-term housing.

This winter’s extreme weather left displaced people living in temporary accommodations exceptionally vulnerable and without basic items to combat the cold. The US Department of State called on UMCOR Georgia to coordinate efforts to bring relief following a particularly brutal winter storm.

UMCOR Georgia worked with four other organizations to coordinate relief efforts which included distributing blankets, medical supplies, medicines, and other necessary items to people in need and the local clinics who serve them. During the distribution, one of the participating organizations set up a mobile medical clinic staffed with specialists who performed a total of 627 medical checks over two days.

This coordinated effort resulted in a significant, positive impact for some 20,000 displaced people suffering particular hardship this winter. UMCOR Georgia was recognized for their work in this relief effort by the US Embassy in Georgia.