From 22-23 April, technical experts from the EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), colleagues from UNHCR and PIN, visited refugees living in Ijevan (Tavush), Chambarak (Gegharkunik) and Hrazdan (Kotayk).
Representatives of EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), UNHCR, and People in Need (PIN) take a group photo after a meeting with refugees in Armenia. Hrazdan, Armenia, 22 April 2024, © UNHCR/Anahit Hayrapetyan
ECHO interacted with families, discussing their well-being, their needs and the plans for the future. Insightful meetings and activities took place at Tavush province’s Women’s Support Center and “For Equality” NGO, where they participated in an interactive art therapy game with refugee women. Additionally, they visited Mission Armenia NGO’s child-friendly space and day-care center in Chambarak, and interacted with older persons, persons with disabilities, single mothers, and women with many children.
ECHO officials also met with local authorities, representatives of the Unified Social Service (USS), and USS and community social workers to understand their assessment of the situation, needs within the communities, challenges faced by social workers to support refugees, and support that can be provided by international community to Government led efforts.
Discussions with personnel from the Women’s Support Centre and Mission Armenia NGOs, alongside community authorities and refugees, provided ECHO with valuable insights into both the emergency and ongoing efforts to support refugees. These efforts, facilitated by NGOs and UNHCR with the support of the international community, encompass various forms of assistance, including core relief items, cash assistance, documentation, access to services, psycho-social support, legal counselling, and the reach out to vulnerable refugees. However, vulnerabilities within the community persist, and local resources and capacities are strained, highlighting the urgent need for expanded services and continued assistance for vulnerable refugees.
During the course of our home visits, refugee families generously opened up about their personal experiences and the array of challenges they face on a daily basis. Amidst these discussions, they graciously expressed their heartfelt gratitude towards the host communities and humanitarian community for their unwavering support during their time of need. Additionally, they voiced their concerns, sharing the challenges they face and the uncertainties about their future. In this context, they conveyed their profound appreciation for our steadfast support and the invaluable assistance, recognizing the significant impact it has on their lives and well-being.
“We are an extended family of nine people, living in this house and paying a rent of AMD 100,000. It’s not easy to find a job in a small remote village. We rely on seasonal jobs and assistance from the government and humanitarian organizations,” said Mrs. Hamest, an older refugee woman residing in Getahovit village of Ijevan community, seeking continuous support. She also genuinely thanked the host community, the social worker, and the neighbours for their daily care and support and expressed gratitude to ECHO and UNHCR for the timely assistance that enabled her family that helped her settle down in Armenia.
Refugee siblings, Stella and Hayk, shared their experiences with us, discussing their studies at school, their new neighbours, and friends. “I have many local friends. We play in the yard and do homework together. We also attend art and music clubs and celebrate birthdays with cake and candles,” said eleven-year-old Stella, sharing interesting stories about her life in the host community. “My best friend is Gor. We love to play football, plant trees, and many other interesting things we happily do together,” added Stella’s younger brother Hayk, playing with Gor in the yard.
Towards the conclusion of the field visit, we observed the collaborative efforts of authorities and host communities, supported by humanitarian organizations, in providing essential support to refugees. These endeavours encompassed vital live-saving assistance and addressed the pressing on-going needs of vulnerable refugees. It was evident that through coordinated actions and community involvement, supported by international community are essential to continue the support the vulnerable refugees, local authorities to continue the provision of services and help refugees address their evolving needs including for protection and assistance, housing, and employment.
“We highly acknowledge the dedication of the host communities, the tremendous work they do for refugees. We equally recognize the invaluable humanitarian efforts of UNHCR – working within the communities to ensure the well-being, self-reliance, and inclusion of refugees,” remarked the ECHO colleagues at the conclusion of their mission.
In Armenia, UNHCR extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Armenia for their exemplary leadership, to the generous host communities who open their homes to refugees, and to invaluable partners like ECHO. It is through their unwavering support and timely contributions that we are empowered to respond effectively to the needs of refugees.
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