Story of Ousuph (age 31), migrant from India, living in Tbilisi, Georgia

Ousuph left his job in Dubai with a hope to find a better life in Georgia. He was promised a job in Batumi (Black Sea cost). He arrived in the capital city of Georgia together with his 3 friends in 2011 only to find out that job, which he was promised, did not exist. So, they decided to stayed in Tbilisi (the capital) and opened a restaurant, which was not a great success. His friends did not think it would make sense to try again, so they went back home, leaving Ousuph behind. 

Unlike his friends, Ousuph was determined to make a living in Georgia. He started learning the language, made friends with the locals, and soon managed to start a new business – a bar for Indian students. This business was also challenging – he had to constantly deal with the complaints of his neighbour.  However, for Ousuph, every challenge is an opportunity – every time the police came to check the situation in the bar, they were accompanied by a lovely Georgian translator, whom Ousuph fell in love with. Ousuph spent 5 beautiful years with his Georgian wife and their little boy in Georgia, before his wife left for the USA in search of a better work. 

Currently, Ousuph is the owner of his Indian restaurant in Tbilisi, which is temporarily closed because of the pandemic. Though Ousuph is facing financial challenges right now, he is still able to provide for his child and even manages to provide food to some of his friends from India living here. The government lifted COVID-19 related restrictions on restaurants in June, but Ousuph has not been ready to open his business yet, as he is not confident about the new rules and regulations and wants to avoid being fined.

The COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis. The threat remains the virus: not people; not migrants, stranded, or displaced persons. The pandemic is borderless; people are affected regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, religion, or status.

Migrants are not inherently more vulnerable to, or at heightened risk of, contracting infectious diseases. Rather, it is the conditions in which they migrate, live, or work that influence or compound health risks, including access to health services.
 

Photos by Eric Gourlan

Interview by NGO Migration Center