Dear Lela,

Thank you very much for informing us about the planned activities in Abkhazia region. We very much appreciate the efforts of UNFPA and are grateful for your assistance to the conflict-affected population, particularly women as one of the most vulnerable groups on the ground.

Let me draw your attention to the fact that the last UNFPA project communicated to us through relevant notification form (to receive the non-objection order in accordance with Georgian legislation) was in 2017 - Support to increased access to basic quality Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH) services in Abkhazia, Georgia. It was indicated that the project will end in 2017. 

I guess the activities that you do now may fall under this particular project, however to be in line with the established regulations, I would like to kindly ask you to again fill in the attached notification form and send to us. 

Thank you in advance and best regards,

Tamuna 

Tamar Kochoradze
Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality
Head of Department for Policy Analysis, 

Planning and International Relations
Tel: 995 32 2988105
Mob: 995 599 196415
E-mail: kochoradze@yahoo.com

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 07:34:56 PM GMT+4, Lela Bakradze <bakradze@unfpa.org> wrote:

Dear Ms. Tsikhelashvili,

First of all, please let me extend sincere gratitude for your continuous support to UNFPA programming in Abkhazia, Georgia, that in addition to addressing basic social needs of conflict-affected population also contributes to confidence-building between the conflict divides.

I am writing to inform you that the United Nations Population Fund Country Office in Georgia in December 2019 will be delivering free of charge modern contraceptives to Abkhazia, Georgia as part of its programming in this area, according to the 2016-2020 UN Partnership for Sustainable Development Strategy signed by the Prime Minister of Georgia and the UNFPA 2016-2020 Country Programme for Georgia.

As you are aware, conflict-affected population in Abkhazia, Georgia still lack access to basic SRH health services. Since 2006 UNFPA/Georgia has been supporting increased access to basic RH services and since 2015, has been providing modern methods of contraception to Abkhazia, Georgia. The current stock is expected to be depleted by the Year fall, and the compelling need will not be covered neither by International community nor by local de facto authorities. In anticipation of this crisis, arising in light of the current full ban on pregnancy termination, free of charge contraceptive methods accessibility to all women in this region becomes a “life-saving” endeavor.

Distribution of provided commodities will be conducted through the RH Centre in Sukhumi, UNFPA established/supported 4 pilot Family Planning (FP) cabinets and the RH Mobile Team outreach.  Mentioned distribution channels have been supported by UNFPA CO for the last 4 years and have a cadre of trained and experienced staff.  We feel confident that this catalytic intervention could have the significant effect in mitigating abortion ban related risks of increased maternal morbidity and mortality. 

The request for a waiver on this humanitarian cargo is currently being processed by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs.

Sincerely yours,

Ms. Lela Bakradze Acting Head of Office UNFPA Country Office in Georgia O: + 995 32 225 11 26 (ext 142); M: +995 591174174  Skype: lelabakradze; Web: georgia.unfpa.org; Facebook: UNFPA.Georgia; Twitter: UNFPAGeorgia