News & Media
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland visits an HDF-sponsored IDP centre in Tbilisi
On November 20, during his official visit to Georgia, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Ireland, H.E. Mr. Micheál Martin, visited one of the IDP centres
sponsored by HDF staff. He was also informed about the establishment, in both
Ireland and Georgia, of a new registered charity organisation "The Humanitarian &
Development Foundation", which will work to support IDP centres in Georgia.
He met several families living in IDP centres, who had been forced to leave
their houses.
The
Minister reviewed the conditions in which they were living, acknowledged their need for immediate help from the
international community. He promised that the Irish government will continue
to support and help IDPs in future, through the newly formed NGO.
Irish Ambassador Visits Gori Refugee Camp
On October 3-7, 2008, the Irish Ambassador in Bulgaria (Georgia, Armenia),
Mr. Geoffrey Keating, visited Georgia to review the humanitarian situation
in Georgia in the aftermath of the conflict in South Ossetia.
During the conflict period, the Irish Government was closely monitoring
events in Georgia. Ireland was one of many countries which provided
humanitarian assistance to refugees, who had been forced from their homes.
On October 4, 2008, the Ambassador and his wife, accompanied by HDF staff,
visited the Refugee Camp, in Gori. The official number of IDPs in Gori Camp
was 2,200. During his visit, the Ambassador reviewed conditions in tents
where refugees lived, talked with some of them, and received information
about their needs.
