People crowding a field branch of Liberty Bank to get compensation for damages by the storm. (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch – The Georgian government has started paying compensation to people affected by a hailstorm almost a month ago.

People in about 40 villages lost their harvest, livestock, a majority of houses are roofless or totally destroyed.

Today, local media reported that there are crowds near local bank branches as compensations are being paid. 18 000 families will receive assistance.

The families are divided into three categories. The first category is families who lost 100 percent of their harvest. They will receive from 1 300 to 1 500 lari. The second category is families who lost about 70-80 percent of their harvest, set to receive 800-900 lari. The third category is families who lost 50 percent of their harvest. They will receive from 300- to 500 lari.

Yesterday Maia Panjikidze, spokesperson for main opposition force Georgian Dream said that the leader of the coalition and his partner, who were recently fined, are ready to pay fines in order to help those people. She also informed that compensations have not been paid until now. Panjikidze noted that if the compensation from the state isn’t enough to help people, Bidzina Ivanishvili and Kakhi Kaladze will pay fines a court handed them which they otherwise refuse to pay.