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<article-title>Forced Migration in Georgia and its Social and Demographic Consequences
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<author>Tamaz Zubiashvili 
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<aff>Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia</aff>

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<abstract>
<title>ABSTRACT</title>
<p>The collapse of the Soviet Union and formation of the new independent states was followed by the grave economic and political crisis that in its turn gave the rise to ethnic conflicts and a large-scale population forced migration in Georgia. Owing to the ethnic cleansing the population in Georgia driven from Abkhazia and former South Ossetian Autonomous District accounted for approximately 270 thousand people, 99% of them were Georgians. In the conditions of the widespread crisis only 37% of the households were settled in other regions of the country in an organized way. A Great part of them stay with relatives, friends or in rented apartments. With the aim of studying social and demographic situation the author conducted some surveys of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Through these surveys we received certain information about socio-economic situation of forced migrants, social dis-position, demographic situation and reproductive behavior. The survey involved primarily the IDPs from Abkhazia. Through the survey it was found that destruction caused by the war greatly affected the family structure. Before ethnic cleansing in Abkhazia a great part of families consisted of extended households, and at present their number has dropped from 44.8% to 9.3%. On the contrary the incomplete nuclear households have expanded from 2.1% to 39.6%. Many family members are scattered. Our study showed that internally displaced persons have maintained their demographic unity in spite of their territorial distribution. In their newlywed families 60% of couples are their representatives (IDPs). It should be noted that IDPs suffer from lack of dwelling spaces. 62% of their households live only in one room, 32.5% - in double room. A great part of them are unemployed (64%) and they make a living with illegal employment and petty trade. The grave social being has influenced the demographic reproductive rates of the IDPs. The crude birth rate has dropped to 6 births per 1000 population. Prior to the conflict in Abkhazia this indicator was at 16.7 births per 1000. The reduction of necessary resources for demographic growth and growing death rate has formed the tendency of natural decrease. The average life expectancy has reduced. Through the sociological survey it was found the reproductive attitude in newlywed couples. Over half of them (53.3%) are going to have only one child within next five years and the remainder has desire to have two children. They indicate the grave financial situation (51.6%) as the main reason for low fertility. Such situation gradually lessens the possibility of demographic restoration of Abkhazia. In our estimation, at present about 150 thousand people reside in Abkhazia that is 28% of the previous population resided there prior to the conflict. For the restoration of reproductive regime and for formation of the optimum demographic situation of the internally displaced persons it is necessary to develop a targeted state program which will include the governmental assistance for fertility growth as well as protection of mothers and children. Georgian Orthodox Church and numerous nongovernmental organizations can make important contribution to demographic salvation of internally displaced persons. Particular attention should be paid to the international assistance and its effective use. </p>
<p><italic>Keywords: </italic>Georgia, Migration, Internally displaced persons.</p>

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<hpdf>V4Z359</hpdf>
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