We have made a decision, in parallel with the construction of residential buildings, to introduce a program to provide displaced families with monetary compensation instead of housing, participation in which will be completely voluntary. Such a statement made today the Prime Minister of Georgia.

“Since 2012, the Government of Georgia has been successfully implementing the displaced persons resettlement program. Compared to 2012, the budget allocated for the support of displaced persons has increased 10-fold. As a result, more than 45,000 displaced families have been granted ownership of new, well-equipped housing. In parallel, the “House in the Village” program is being successfully implemented, within the framework of which up to 2,000 families were able to purchase a house in rural areas this year with the state's support. Following the completion of the ongoing constructions, new apartments will be handed over to an additional 2,600 displaced families.

However, despite these impressive results, many displaced families still remain to be provided for. Given the numbers, completely resolving the resettlement issue will take at least an additional 10 years.

Therefore, in order to accelerate the processes, we have made a decision, in parallel with the construction of residential buildings, to introduce a program to provide displaced families with monetary compensation instead of housing, participation in which will be completely voluntary.

Each displaced family that has not received housing or appropriate compensation in the past will have the right to submit an application to the relevant agency of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Protection of Georgia - to receive monetary compensation instead of housing. The compensation amount will be GEL 10,000 for each member of the displaced family. Compensations will be issued according to the sequence of application submissions.

For this program, GEL 58 million will be allocated this year, and this program will continue in the future as well. In the coming years, the budget will increase even further. We emphasize once again that in parallel with the issuance of monetary compensations, the construction of residential buildings and the “House in the Village” program will continue for those displaced families that do not apply for monetary compensation. We are confident that thousands of displaced families will benefit from the program we offer. We wish prosperity to each displaced family and a speedy return to their native regions. I thank the Minister of Health of Georgia, as well as the Minister of Finance of Georgia, for preparing these matters. I thank the representatives of the parliamentary majority for their contribution and support in preparing this decision!” – said Irakli Kobakhidze.