On July 1, the breakaway region of Abkhazia was in a state of emergency because of a bomb near the Inguri bridge. The bridge is a vital trading link for the thousands of Georgians living in the Gali district, a region inside Abkhazia that borders the ceasefire line with Georgia. Abkhazia is seeking independence from Georgia. For an overview of the conflict, please visit Reuters AlertNet here.
On July 2, I tried crossing this bridge again and was finally allowed to enter thanks to a contact. However, no one else was on the bridge aside from a handful of people in an UNOMIG (United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia ) bus and the ever present Georgian/Russian/Abkhaz border guards. The border was officially closed.
On the evening of July 6, a bomb detonated in Gali town center killing four and injuring six and was at the scene on the morning of July 7. Most bystanders refused to comment. However those who did complained of the miserable living conditions, lack of jobs and lack of development. Most rely on trade with Zugdidi but with the bridge closed, this has been taken away as well. “We can only rely on ourselves,” one resident told me.
According to an article by medianews published at Human Rights Georgia, Gali district residents are asking the Georgian government for food aid assistance. They also want the bridge opened.
There are around 45,000 Georgians living in the district administered by Abkhazian de facto jurisdiction. Caught in a conflict between Abkhazia and Georgia, the Gali residents are suffering from a conflict with no discernible end in sight. However, it is not clear how Georgia could provide the Gali residents with food assistance so long as the bridge remains closed.
Indeed, even if the bridge was open, Georgia has no links with Gali Abkhaz authorities. It is unlikely Georgia would ever attempt to provide food to the Gali district residents given the sensitive political nature of the current crisis.
