Syrians who fled conflict to the land of their ancestors in Armenia are struggling to restart their lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic. UNHCR has stepped in to provide support.
By Anahit Hayrapetyan in Yerevan
Life was tough for George, his wife Ani and their twins after they fled Syria’s war to Armenia but the COVID-19 pandemic has only made it harder. His work as a taxi driver dried up and Ani’s business baking bread for neighbours stalled.
They once had a prosperous lifestyle in the Syrian city of Aleppo and they tried as hard as they could to make ends meet in their new home. But as a national lockdown took hold, it was even difficult to pay rent on their apartment on the outskirts of the capital, Yerevan.
“We have to struggle every day of our life in Armenia relying on the support from others, hoping for a better future for ourselves and our children,” said Ani. “We can hardly pay the bills.”
The family came to Armenia rather than heading somewhere new because it was the land of their ancestors. In some ways, that decision made their lives easier.
The family knew the language and, though they had to adapt to a different dialect and customs, it was easier than starting from scratch.
Around 22,000 Syrians have fled to Armenia since the war began in 2011 of which an estimated 14,000 remain.
The Syrian-Armenians have links to Armenia dating back a century and the government has welcomed them warmly, in part because of the cultural and historical connection. Their ranks include professionals such as doctors, engineers, IT specialists and teachers and many have business and artisanal skills valued in their new country.
“We welcome the support given by Armenians to displaced people.”
But life for many is difficult especially since the pandemic and it is estimated that some 500 families are in dire need of help with sustainable housing.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is providing humanitarian support in the form of cash assistance and other support to some of the most vulnerable. The support includes vocational training, micro-credit loans, tools to generate income, education in local marketing, as well as counselling and coaching.
In addition, UNHCR also advocates for the social and economic rights of Syrians and other displaced populations and promotes their inclusion in state programmes and development schemes on an equal basis with locals.
“We welcome the support given by Armenians to displaced people, who have struggled along with many local people during the COVID-19 pandemic. UNHCR has always advocated for the rights of refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced people in line with our mandate,” said Anna-Carin Öst, UNHCR’s representative in Armenia.
“Without this support, we would not be able to cope.”
The emergency assistance, distributed by the non-governmental organization Mission Armenia, has enabled the families to meet basic needs. UNHCR is also providing psycho-social support and counselling during the pandemic.
“Without this support, we would not be able to cope with the challenges that accumulate day by day,” said George. We started from scratch … but we were reaching some progress… but now the COVID-19 lockdown pushed us backwards, and that has been so painful.”
“The assistance we receive is life-saving for us,” said Ani, adding that they needed to juggle rent, food and paying for electricity.
For the 12-year-old twins, Salpie and Sahag*, lockdown has meant doing lessons online on a computer lent to them by their school, even though the internet connection is sometimes shaky.
Salpie said she wanted to become a singer, while Sahag, remembering the country where he spent his early childhood, imagined a career that could give his hopes for a better life concrete form.
“I want to become an engineer and construct beautiful houses with gardens. One day, I will build a big house like the one we had in Aleppo,” he said.
*Names changed for protection reasons
CIVILNET.Armenia’s Health System Stretched, As New COVID Cases Reach Record High
Pashinyan discussed with Putin legal processes around Russian companies operating in Armenia
14:57,
YEREVAN, MAY 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has thoroughly discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin the issue of legal processes taking place around the Russian companies operating in Armenia.
“As for the situations over the companies operating with a Russian capital, I have discussed in detail this issue with the President of Russia, and we reached very concrete agreements in this regard. We just need to implement these agreements which will take into account the interests of relations between our countries”, he said during an online press conference today.
Pashinyan said there is a very rich agenda in the relations of Armenia and Russia. “And we are moving forward by solving the issues of the agenda of these relations. One issue will be solved with the best possible option, the next via a compromise. There should compromise, friendly, allied compromise and mutual understanding in all cases. This is the most important, and I believe it will take place”, the Armenian PM said.
Criminal case has been launched over Russian companies operating in Armenia – Gazprom Armenia, South Caucasian Railway CJSC, Orsis Arms. Investigation is underway.
Azerbaijani press: Expert: Info on work of Armenian PM’s grandfather with Nazis shows glorification of fascist servants
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 12
By Huseyn Safarov – Trend:
The information that the grandfather of the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan collaborated with the Nazis during WWII fits into the general model of behavior and decision-making by the new leadership of Armenia, Russian expert and TV presenter Yevgeny Mikhailov told Trend on May 12.
Information on collaboration of Nikol Pashinyan’s grandfather with the fascists has previously appeared on Armenian media outlets.
“If this information is reliable, this explains a lot. First of all, this explains Pashinyan’s reluctance to heed the calls of the world community and, above all, Russia about the inadmissibility of the glorification of fascist servants and the ideology of national superiority. This information also fits into the general model of behavior and decision-making by the new leadership of Armenia, which intentionally decided not to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the victory over fascism,” said Mikhailov.
“This sensation caused a shock also for the head of Armenia, who previously said that his grandfather was a “war hero”. In the current interpretation of the history, which is often presented to us by propaganda, the grandfather of the Armenian prime minister may be a hero for himself, but then it turns out that he is from the ranks of Roman Shukhevych, Stepan Bandera, Garegin Nzhdeh, Dro and so on,” Mikhailov stressed.
“I think that Nikol Pashinyan himself did not expect such a stir around the name of his grandfather, but why didn’t the special services in Armenia check this information and inform Pashinyan before? Maybe it is the special services themselves who went for this provocation to overthrow Pashinyan, since he did not fulfill his promises to the people and damaged the local security forces as well,” he said.
“And it can be assumed that there are forces in Yerevan that want peace with Azerbaijan, some of which are under the control of special services. Otherwise, I cannot assess such a hype around the biography of a relative of the Armenian prime minister”, the Russian expert said.
Russia’s Putin to address nation on Monday – Kremlin
15:16,
YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver an address to the nation on Monday afternoon, the Kremlin press service said, reports TASS.
The president will focus on the social and epidemiological situation in the country and new measures of supporting citizens and national economy, the press service said.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin would deliver his address at the beginning of a meeting devoted to the situation with the coronavirus spread.
Since the start of the pandemic, Putin has addressed the nation several times.
In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global pandemic and named the virus COVID-19.
According to the data of the World Health Organization, coronavirus cases have been confirmed in more than 212 countries and territories.
The France-Armenia Chamber of Commerce concerned over illegal activities against Gurgen Khachatryan
The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has been operating in 92 countries, including Armenia since 2011, has today expressed concern over the situation surrounding one of its partner companies Ucom and its Chairman of Board of Directors, making a public statement which reads:
“The France-Armenia Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been following closely the developments around Ucom and Galaxy Group of Companies, within the scope of its mission in Armenia—which is the improvement and development of the commercial, business and investment climate.
We are convinced that the business and investment environment in this difficult transition period in Armenia must be protected from instability, from a decrease in business confidence and from an atmosphere of mistrust.
In this context, it was particularly disturbing to see the Prime Minister’s newly appointed spokesperson’s Facebook statement about the government’s intention to interfere in the sale of Ucom’s shares and the events around Gurgen Khachatryan, the chairman of the company’s board of directors.
The RA Constitution proclaims freedom of economic activity and guarantees economic competition. It also defines the economic order of the State, which is based on private ownership, freedom of economic activity and free economic competition, with the goal of achieving general economic well-being and social justice through state policies.
At the same time, the main governing principle in the Republic of Armenia is that of separation and balance of the legislative, executive and judicial powers.
Being deeply convinced that the three branches of power in Armenia must be independent, we would like to believe that the spokesperson’s remarks about the possibility of an unhealthy interdependence of the judicial and executive powers are simply a result of her inexperience,” the statement said.
It is noted that in a rule of law state, the executive refrains from interfering in disputes among shareholders, from influencing such disputes or putting pressure on shareholders. Also, before a court verdict is reached, it refrains from making controversial and dubious statements and/or actions that may affect the impartiality of the court’s decision and have a negative effect on the Republic of Armenia’s business environment and the country’s attractiveness for investments.
“We continue to follow the developments, and we are hopeful that the parties will refrain from unlawful and unconstitutional approaches and actions,” the statement concluded.
British Armenian actor Andy Serkis reads entire Hobbit online, raises $351,000 for charity
Scandal surrounding Ucom, the only local telecom operator in Armenia. Redistribution, takeover or seizure of property?
Armenia Investigative Committee: 15 charged under case of Gavar incidents
Armenian deputy PM participates in EEC Council session in video conference mode
14:01,
YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan is taking part in the session of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) via a video conference mode, his Office told Armenpress.
The session agenda includes issues relating to the process of actions aimed at eliminating the barriers in the domestic market of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the fulfillment of main directions of the Union’s international activity, as well as the implementation of the plan to form a single electricity market. The session participants will also discuss approving the agenda of the upcoming session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.
The session will also cover the issue on raising the role of the Eurasian Development Bank in the development and implementation of anti-crisis and stabilization measures.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan