On July 19, His Excellency Ambassador of Canada to Armenia, Mr. Andrew Turner, and Mr. Aaron Coe, Political Counsellor of the Embassy of Canada, and Ms. Gwenolenn Le Couster, UNHCR Officer-in-Charge, visited Armavir province to meet with refugees and local authorities, to better understand the situation on the ground.
His Excellency Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Andrew Turner meeting with refugees
The authorities, including Marzpet of Armavir, Mr. Davit Khudatyan, and the Mayor of Guy settlement, Mr. Ghazar Ghazaryan expressed sincere appreciation for the solidarity shown by UNHCR and the Government of Canada, emphasizing how such support bolsters their local efforts to assist refugees and foster integration. They praised the resilience of refugees and collaborative spirit of host communities, authorities, UNHCR and international community, highlighting these joint efforts in overcoming challenges and nurturing an environment of mutual support and understanding.
During the community meeting, the refugees expressed deep gratitude for the warm embrace and essential support extended by the host community during their most challenging moments. Despite these significant gestures of support, they also shared ongoing challenges related to housing, employment, and difficulties in meeting basic needs, as they work towards rebuilding their lives within the host communities.
“We love Armavir, it is warm and hospitable place for us. Your life saving support enabled us to survive and regain hope and is now helping us rebuild our lives in the host communities. It is however difficult to choose between paying the rent and buying food for our children, we are hardly making ends meet. We thereby request you to continue to support refugee families like us, as it will allow us time to settle in and plan our future”, said a refugee couple with hope in their eyes and thankful to Government of Armenia, local authorities, local community, international community and UNHCR for their solidarity and support.
UNHCR highlighted the role played by UNHCR and the unwavering support provided by the Government and people of Canada right from the onset of the refugee situation in Armenia. Moreover, UNHCR lauded the efforts of the authorities and people of Armavir, which has been pivotal in enhancing the resilience of the refugee population and contributing to their socio-economic inclusion. Furthermore, UNHCR highlighted the importance of sustained international cooperation and solidarity in providing essential humanitarian aid and efforts towards fostering long-term solutions of refugees.
Deeply moved by the resilience of refugees and solidarity displayed by local communities, Ambassador Turner expressed heartfelt admiration for the support and solidarity. He remarked, “The strength and unity I witnessed today in Araks are inspiring. The bond between refugees and their hosts, bolstered by international community, shows the power of empathy in overcoming challenges.” He added “that people of Canada stand together with the refugees and communities hosting them and will continue to support them jointly with Government of Armenia and UNHCR”.
Ambassador Turner’s words resonated deeply with both refugees and local authorities, reinforcing the significance of inclusive community support and international partnerships in addressing needs of situation of refugees in Armenia and support the efforts by Government, local authorities and UNHCR.
UNHCR echoed these sentiments, extending profound gratitude to the Government and people of Canada for their unwavering solidarity and continuous support. This support has been instrumental in enabling UNHCR to deliver timely and targeted assistance to refugees in Armenia, helping them navigate their journey towards resilience.
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