Georgia allocates additional $1.3 million to regions hit by natural disasters

The Georgian authorities have allocated an additional 3.5 million lari ($1.3 million) to municipalities to address the aftermath of natural disasters.

According to Georgian media reports cited by Caliber.Az, the decision was made under a resolution signed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Under the resolution, additional funding was allocated to five municipalities, while two more municipalities received funding for the first time under the assistance programme.

The latest allocation brings the total amount of government assistance provided to municipalities to 55.2 million lari ($21.1 million).

The funds are intended to support efforts to eliminate the consequences of natural disasters and help affected municipalities address the resulting damage and restore essential infrastructure.

On August 27, heavy precipitation triggered landslides, mudflows, flash floods and erosion in several settlements of Baghdati Municipality in western Georgia. Flooding damaged roads, bridges, other infrastructure, agricultural plots and residential buildings, prompting hydrologists and geologists from the National Environment Agency to assess the affected areas.

Heavy rainfall also caused problems in Kharagauli Municipality on September 5, when floodwaters carried stones, gravel and soil onto central and local roads in several villages, disrupting traffic and damaging road infrastructure. Municipal services deployed special equipment to clear the affected roads.

In the Guria region, heavy rainfall in late August caused rivers to swell in Ozurgeti Municipality, while strong winds damaged electricity transmission lines, temporarily affecting power supplies to several settlements.

On September 7, a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall blocked the 16th kilometre of the Ozurgeti–Shemokmedi–Bzhuzhhesi–Gomistmita road, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend traffic while clearance and remedial works were carried out.

By Vugar Khalilov