UNICEF reaching out to the most vulnerable communities hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia

UNICEF rushed to deliver essential hygiene and food items for Roma families living in Gachiani and the nearby villages of Vakhtangisi and Tetritskaro, in an outreach initiative led by the Georgia’s Prime-Minister’s Office and the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality in partnership with UNICEF.

“Children are the hidden victims of this pandemic,” said Dr Ghassan Khalil, UNICEF representative in Georgia. “We need to reach the families who are especially vulnerable and provide needs-based support to them.”

In the next few weeks, about 380 Roma families in Tbilisi, Dedoplistskaro, Kobuleti and Kutaisi will receive packages with essential hygiene and food products while also be informed on best protection practices against the virus.

“The families might need food, medicine and hygiene supplies or have more complex needs like psychosocial support,” Dr Khalil added “Our assistance will help them make ends meet at least for another couple of months,” he added.

UNICEF continues to work closely with the Government, other United Nations and humanitarian partners, to respond to covid-19 pandemic. UNICEF’s mix of response and preparedness activities include: risk communication as well as learning, play, and positive parenting communications; provision of critical hygiene and medical supplies for healthcare and education structures; ensuring children, pregnant, and lactating women are supported with adequate healthcare despite the outbreak; mitigating secondary effects of the outbreak by facilitating continued access to education, child protection needs, including prevention of violence against children, and advocating for continued access to social protection programmes.