Three new 12-storey blocks in the western Georgian city of Kutaisi will house 720 internally displaced families after their completion, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs announced on Tuesday.

The project, with the cost of over ?77 million ($28.52mln), aims to provide improved living conditions for displaced families as part of an “unprecedented large-scale” resettlement programme initiated by the Government in 2023.

The construction of flats for displaced families is also progressing in the western city of Kutaisi, where 1,040 families will be housed “in the coming months”, the Ministry said.

The scope of the resettlement programme also extends to capital Tbilisi, western city of Zugdidi, central-eastern city of Rustavi and central town of Borjomi.

In Zugdidi, preparations have been completed to accommodate 1,700 displaced families through the construction of seven multi-storey blocks, at an estimated cost of more than ?191 million ($70.75mln).

In total, 13,000 displaced families will benefit from the programme.