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Young
Leaders For Peace And Development In
The
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Georgian/Abkhaz Conflict History Shortly after the breakdown of the Soviet Union and Georgia's independence in 1991, the country found itself facing the uprising of its western province of Abkhazia (mainly populated by Abkhazians), which in turn declared its independence from the central government in Tbilisi. In August 1992, Georgian forces attacked and occupied Abkhazia's main city of Sokhumi. In September 1993, Abkhazian troops drove them out again onto the other side of Injury river, along with some 250,000 people, mostly of Georgian origin, who were fleeing the fighting. A cease-fire agreement was concluded in May 1994, and peacekeeping troops were subsequently deployed. These measures, however, did not prevent renewed fighting from erupting in May 1998, causing another displacement of some 40,000 people, most of whom had previously returned to their homes. Nearly ten years since the cease-fire, the situation remains volatile, with incidents regularly reported from the frontline region. Numerous efforts made by the UN-supported coordination council have not so far yielded any acceptable solution to the conflict; the debate over the future status of Abkhazia and the conditions for the return and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) remain open. Abkhazia has been further isolated from the rest of the world by an economic embargo, introduced in 1993 as a result of the conflict. In this once thriving Black Sea tourist resort, buildings destroyed during the fighting and subsequent pillage lie in ruins, and essential services are severely disrupted. In western Georgia, the long-standing presence of tens of thousands of IDPs has put considerable strain on existing infrastructure in some densely populated areas. This, coupled with the absence of any maintenance, has severely degraded the sanitation system, to the detriment of both IDPs and local residents. 48% of these displaced persons are between 5 - 17 years old. For additional information, please email YLPD at ylpd@aed.org Interested in making a donation to YLPD? Click here for additional information. |
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