Georgia
In Georgia, Oxfam's focus is on health care, sustainable livelihoods, tackling domestic violence, and keeping government institutions accountable.
Emergency update: Crisis in Georgia
Good health at an affordable price
Georgia remains one of the poorest countries of the former Soviet Union. We believe health care services should be available and affordable to all, yet people in Georgia who can't afford vital medicines have to go without.
Despite the government's aim to offer free health care, in reality patients end up paying for medicines, food and even heating in their hospital wards.
How Oxfam is helping
Oxfam is making health care available to around 36,000 vulnerable people through medical schemes run by our partner organisations. Scheme members pay a small quarterly fee to receive basic treatment and medicines.
Susan's story
Susan Harrison survived the London bombings in July 2005 thanks to the efficiency of the NHS. She travelled to Georgia to visit some of the primary health care projects funded by Oxfam.
Making a living
Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges facing Georgia. In the early 1990s, the population of Samegrelo region doubled with the arrival of large numbers of people fleeing conflict in neighbouring Abkhazia. For these internally displaced people, life is especially hard.
How Oxfam is helping
We offer poor and displaced people loans at low interest rates to help them set up or develop businesses. Clients are given help to prepare professional business plans and they receive continued support every step of the way. So far we've helped create 300 new jobs in Samegrelo.
Before this wood-processing workshop I had a hazelnut plantation. But that only gave me work for two months of the year. Having this business is more stable for me and gives me a regular wage.
Roman Gabisonia, Samegrelo
Other development work
- Supporting organisations that help keep the government accountable through monitoring and evaluation
- Tackling domestic violence
Crisis in Georgia
Oxfam is deeply concerned about the deepening crisis in Georgia. Fighting between Russia and Georgia in and around the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has caused mass displacement of ordinary people. Many have been taken in by friends or family, but we believe others are in urgent need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
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