UNFPA RESPONDS TO CRISIS IN GEORGIA

In response to the 2008 August crisis, UNFPA, together with other sister UN Agencies immediately commenced humanitarian operations focused on Reproductive Health, Hygiene and Gender Based Violence. For the above purposes, UNFPA has received additional funds from UNFPA Humanitarian Response Branch and has mobilized extra financial resources under Flash Appeal and CERF application.

RH Mobile Teams
To act upon growing needs, UNFPA has further deployed RH Mobile teams in regions of Georgia, providing IDP women with medical examination and counselling, as well as IEC materials on RH. Till date, the assistance has reached 2,183 IDP women, in over 38 IDP collective centres spread across the country.

Youth RH Centre in Gori
On September 20, 2008, UNFPA opened a Youth Reproductive Health Centre in Gori, in the centre of Shida Kartli, the region, most affected by the military hostilities; it serves as both, clinical as well as counselling and information for youth, including IDPs. RH service providers have been licensed and trained in accordance with UNFPA standards and guidelines. 

Family Dignity Hygiene Kits
Apart from medical examination and counselling, UNFPA in addition has provided basic family hygienic kits to the displaced population; approximately 11,000 kits, which include multi-vitamin supplements, sanitary napkins, soap and other hygienic items, have already been distributed in over 130 IDP Collective Centres in Tbilisi, Rustavi and Gori. Overall, 44,000 people have benefitted from this effort, as each kit serves a family of 4 members.
Up until now, the volunteers of Georgian Medical Students Association (GMSA) were mobilized in the distribution of kits, from here on, IDP women and youth will take over the distribution and assembling process of the kits, which will provide them with the opportunity to participate in humanitarian response, and also offer them a modest source of income.

In the framework of RHIYC humanitarian response, UNFPA supports young people through distribution of “Youth RH kits”, 1,800 of such kits were assembled with active participation of youth volunteers, and distributed among young people aged between 15 and 25, in Gori, Tbilisi and Rustavi. Each of these kits contains additional items for security purposes, such as locks and flashlights, apart from various RH informational materials and commodities. Based on the assessment and verbal interviews with the youth, this activity successfully addressed their hygiene and RH needs, and also contributed towards raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, puberty and maternity.

Combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
In its efforts to counter gender-based violence, under the Norwegian Government grant for Flash Appeal, UNFPA plans to train 20-25 social workers in Shida Kartli and recruit 4-5 of them to work as a part of RH mobile team.
The goal of the training being, to prepare social workers before they are deployed in the field and it will cover the practical aspects of SVGB interventions in humanitarian settings, further developing skills to identify and assist victims of sexual and gender based violence resulting from the conflict.
In addition, UNFPA is implementing a series of training on “SGBV and Clinical Management of Rape Survivors”, which are designed to raise awareness and sensitivity of healthcare workers in conflict situations, as well as equip them with critical skills to deal with rape victims in emergencies. The training will include both, gender and medical aspects of treating rape survivors in post conflict scenario.
Within the frames of the UN Joint Project on Greater Gender Equality, co-funded by UNHCR, support was provided to the local NGO “Sakhli” to expand phsycho-social and legal counseling to IDP women in Tbilisi, Gori and surrounding areas
Moreover, in a joint project, UNFPA together with UNDP and UNHCR, contributed to the creation of Gender Resource Centre in Gori, initiated by the Advisory Council under the Speaker of the Parliament, which will serve as a coordination unit among all international and local stakeholders who focus their assistance on gender related issues, in areas most affected by the conflict.

The UN Joint Project supports organization of a capacity building trainings conducted by a GenCap International consultant for the UN, International Organizations’ and local NGO staff on Gender Aspects of the Humanitarian Action.  The training will introduce the materials developed by IASC and other relevant materials to be applied in the humanitarian crises response in Georgia.  The goal of the training is to sensitize the training audience on gender aspects of conflict and strengthen practical capacity of the UN and International Organizations to support gender mainstreaming in humanitarian actions.

http://www.ungeorgia.ge/userfiles/files/new_newsletterRevised.pdf

http://www.ungeorgia.ge/userfiles/files/new_newsletterRevised.pdf

http://www.ungeorgia.ge/userfiles/files/NEWSLETTER_19-26-F1.pdf

http://www.ungeorgia.ge/userfiles/files/NEWSLETTER%2012-191.pdf

http://www.ungeorgia.ge/userfiles/files/UNFPA%20EMERGENCY%20RESPONSE%20NEWSLETTER.pdf

http://www.ungeorgia.ge/userfiles/files/UNFPA%20news.pdf

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