Said Bargandzhia

WAC assisted families of repatriates in need of food in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a total of 126 people, a group of whom had previously asked Congress for support.

The Executive Secretary of the Congress, Inar Gitsba, said that repatriates living in the village of Agudzera in the Gulrypsh region first applied to the WAC, and later the list of those in need was supplemented. The need for help arose due to restrictive measures introduced in Abkhazia in connection with the spread of coronavirus infection.

“We discussed this request with the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the World Abaza Congress Mussa Ekzekov, who immediately made a decision and instructed us to work out [this issue] and think over how and in what form we can provide food assistance to our compatriots. After that [M.Kh. Ekzekov] transferred the amount of money necessary for the purchase of food,” Gitsba said.

According to him, the food basket consists of 18 items. It includes flour, corn grits, pasta, sugar, condensed milk, semolina, beans, tomato, mayonnaise, vegetable oil, tea and potatoes. Inar Gitsba added that buckwheat and rice, which the Moscow Abkhaz Diaspora previously transferred to Abkhazia, were also put in the “basket”. 

The WAC Executive Secretary, on behalf of the Congress, also expressed gratitude to the “Beer World” company represented by Rezo Zantaria and Ruches Ardzinba who supplemented the food packages with two items.”

Assistance was provided by the State Committee for Repatriation, completing the lists of repatriates living in Abkhazia. The final list includes families returning from Syria, Turkey, Jordan and the fraternal republics of the North Caucasus.

“Everyone is given the same help, depending on the composition of the family. More food was given to families with six and seven people.  I would like to separately thank CO “Kiaraz”, who shared a list of necessary products for the food basket. We took it as a basis, added a number of other positions, and managed to help people in this way,” concluded Inar Gitsba.

The families who received food expressed their gratitude to the WAC and personally to Mussa Ekzekov.

“We come from Syria, we have 14 families. We live here in Agudzera. Today, the World Abaza Congress helped us, Abkhaz, Circassians and Abaza. We are all brothers. Many thanks! We pray to God that all your plans are fulfilled. We pray to God for the unification of the Abkhaz, Abaza and Circassians in the Congress. This month is a month of fasting for all Muslims, in Syria this month it is customary to help those who need it. So you have not forgotten about such help. May God give you strength and good luck!” - said the repatriate from Syria Mamun Yagan (Maan).

Gratitude was also expressed by another repatriate from Syria Fadel Lushba.

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“We want to thank everyone who helped us during this difficult time. We appreciate this help and thank everyone who participated in it. Now is the time when you can see how the brothers help each other. I want to thank the Chairman of the Congress [Mussa Ekzekov] and all the staff,” the repatriate said.

For everyone who wants to help Abkhazia in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, there is an opportunity to contribute to the bank details of the Moscow Abkhaz Diaspora or “We are together” movement from the territories of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation, as well as to the details of the “World Abaza Congress” from the territory of the Republic of Turkey, or  make an online donation on the Congress website.  All funds received will be used to protect the life and health of residents of Abkhazia from coronavirus infection COVID-19.