In 2020, the Democracy Research Institute (DRI) identified the problems and needs of the population of the villages located along the occupation line. DRI researchers visited 24 villages and two IDP settlements in Gori, Kareli, Kaspi, Dusheti, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi municipalities. The population in the visited villages is mostly of retirement age.

The monitoring revealed cases relating to freedom of movement, security, unjustified prohibition of entry into populated areas and constant control; socio-economic and infrastructural problems. Many settlements do not have preschools or schools; Roads in some of the visited villages are damaged or there are no roads at all; People suffer from the lack of irrigation and drinking water; Most of the villages do not have pharmacies or medical facilities. A number of settlements have no grocery stores.

As a result, the migration rate in the villages along the occupation line is high. Young people are leaving the villages.

The needs of the villages located along the occupation line