Posted May 4, 2005

Severe Flooding Destroys Communities in Georgia

Country: Georgia

After heavy, week-long rains at the end of April, many of Georgia's western, central and eastern districts are suffering from the worst flooding in decades. Although no causalities are yet reported, thousands of families have been displaced by heavy rains, high waters and landslides.

Throughout affected areas, houses have been destroyed, bridges washed out and vital croplands inundated by flood waters.

Mercy Corps is currently putting together a response to this widespread disaster.

Over 100 villages in remote, mountainous regions were damaged and more than 50 villages were cut off from access to main roads. Hundreds of people have been evacuated and thousands of hectares of farmland have been lost to the floods.

Georgian President Saakashvili, on a tour of the affected regions, estimated the total damage to farms, energy and water infrastructure, communication lines, bridges and roads to be as much as 10 million dollars.

It will take months for Georgia to recover from this catastrophe. Mercy Corps is ensuring that the needs of displaced Georgian families will be met.