Category: 2020

World Bank Supports Armenia to Combat Human Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

Tambiyan Samvel
Mirage News
April 3 2020

  

In response to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, and recently in Armenia, the World Bank is supporting the Government’s response to protect its people amid the coronavirus outbreak. At the request of the Ministry of Health of Armenia, the World Bank has allocated $3 million to address the country’s urgent needs for equipment and supplies needed for the intensive care of people with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. These funds are supporting the procurement of 50 artificial pulmonary ventilation (APV) devices worth $1.35 million under the ongoing Disease Prevention and Control Project (DPCP).

This procurement became possible due to the application of the streamlined procedures of the World Bank in emergency situations. The technical expertise provided by the World Bank helped to carry out rapid market analysis to ensure value for money amid acute shortages in global supply of medical equipment and increasing prices. As a result, Armenia’s health system will be equipped with additional high-quality devices necessary for treating an increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

“In these dramatic times the Bank stands ready to support the country’s response to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic,” says Sylvie Bossoutrot, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia. “I would like to recognize the unprecedented dedication of health professionals in Armenia to protect the people. I would also like to strongly encourage each citizen of Armenia to strictly abide by the requirements of these emergency times and observe social distancing and isolation measures aimed at minimizing the impact of the pandemic.”

Similar arrangements will be applied to purchase additional ventilators, as well as personal protective equipment to address immediate healthcare needs. In addition, the World Bank stands ready to reprogram parts of its active ongoing portfolio in Armenia to support the government’s response to COVID-19 in various areas.

The World Bank’s financial and technical support is closely coordinated with that of other international organizations and development finance institutions. In particular, the above equipment will be procured directly through United Nations agencies’ supply channels in view of the current constraints for these types of medical emergency equipment in the global market.

The World Bank Group is rolling out a $14 billion fast-track package to strengthen the COVID-19 response in developing countries and shorten the time to recovery. The immediate response includes financing, policy advice and technical assistance to help countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. The IFC is providing $8 billion in financing to help private companies affected by the pandemic and preserve jobs. IBRD and IDA are making an initial US$6 billion available for the health-response. As countries need broader support, the World Bank Group will deploy up to $160 billion over 15 months to protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery.

/Public Release. View in full here.

Sixth patient dies of COVID-19 in Armenia

Greg Madatian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 3 2020


The sixth patient with coronairus has died at “Nork” Infectious Clinical Hospital, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Alina Nikoghosyan informs.

The 78-year-old woman had coronavirus disease, confirmed bilateral polysynthetic pneumonia, and developed blood coagulation disorders, which in turn made the treatment difficult.

In addition, the woman had chronic diseases, including diabetes, arterial hypertension.

The woman was not a citizen of the Republic of Armenia.

Armenia has so far confirmed 663 cases of coronavirus, 33 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Patient, 76, dies of COVID-19 in Armenia

Nahapetian Zhanna
Public Radio of Armenia
April 3 2020


Armenia has reported one more coronavirus-related death.

A 76-year-old patient has died at Nork Infectious Clinical Hospital, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health Alina Nikoghosyan reports.

The patient had coronavirus disease, confirmed bilateral pneumonia. In addition, the woman had chronic diseases, including diabetes and arterial hypertension.

Armenia has so far confirmed 663 cases of coronavirus, 33 patients have recovered, seven have died.

Third person in a day dies from coronavirus in Armenia making total number of COVID-19 deaths 7

Arpi Talalian
Aysor, Armenia
April 3 2020

A 76-year old patient died today in Nork Infection Hospital from coronavirus. The patient suffered from bilateral pneumonia, Health Ministry spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan reports.

“The woman also had chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension,” she reported.

It is the third death during the day in Armenia.

The death toll from coronavirus in Armenia has reached 7. The number of infected as of April 2 is 663.

Armenian village shop owner addresses PM, complains about being fined during state of emergency

Arsine Chaltikian
News.am, Armenia
April 3 2020

23:14, 02.04.2020

The owner of a shop in an Armenian village went live on Facebook, addressed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and complained that he is being fined for not printing a coupon for a small item during the state of emergency.

“Tax officers came to my store and are now fining me for not printing a coupon for a small item. I told them they can fine me, but after that I will close my shop and tell the government to take care of me, my wife and three children. During the state of emergency, my family and I have come here to make sure the locals don’t go shopping elsewhere, but tax officers come and fine us,” the citizen said live on Facebook.

Cross-stone to be placed during Armenia PM’s visit to the Netherlands

Emil Lazarian
News.am, Armenia
April 3 2020
Cross-stone to be placed during Armenia PM’s visit to the Netherlands Cross-stone to be placed during Armenia PM’s visit to the Netherlands

21:04, 02.04.2020
                  

The duplicate of the khachkar (cross-stone) of Atom Verakatsu, which dates back to 1004 and is enchased on the wall of the St. Nshan Church of the Haghpat Monastery, will be placed at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Today, the Armenian government decided to allocate, at the expense of the government’s reserve fund, AMD 6,288,000 to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport in the first semester of this year in order to prepare and transport the duplicate of the cross-stone of Atom Verakatsu and place it at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

From April 13 to 15, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and he will visit the Drents Museum in Assen and the Peace Palace in The Hague during the visit.

Ambassador of Armenia to the Netherlands T. Balayan has met with President of the Carnegie Foundation Piet Hein Donner and Director of the Peace Palace Erik de Baedts. During the meeting, Donner and de Baedts informed that the board of the Foundation had examined the Armenian side’s initiative to donate an Armenian cross-stone during the Prime Minister’s visit and hold an opening at the Peace Palace.

The decision was adopted in order to present a sample of the rich art of Armenian cross-stone making (the duplicate of the cross-stone of Atom Verakatsu) and disseminate and popularize the cultural values of the Armenian nation abroad.

EU to provide €51 million to support Armenia’s fight against COVID-19

Emma Nadirian
Public Radio of Armenia
April 3 2020

The European Union will provide €51 million to support Armenia’s fight against COVID-19, the EU Delegation in Armenia reports.

This includes €18 million in new funds and €33 million redirected towards supplying medical devices and equipment, training for medical and laboratory staff, support to SMEs and business community, as well as social and humanitarian assistance to those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

“More is yet to come through access to important regional banking facilities and further restructuring of projects,” the EU delegation said.

"Wow Things" Media Company Purchases "The Armenian Reporter"

Emil Karabekian
The Union Journal
April 3 2020
By Eman Selim
April 2, 2020

The Armenian Reporter was founded by Edward K. Boghosian in New York. It’s an independent weekly that is published in the United States in the English Language. The Armenian Reporter was first published in 1967, and the ending operations were in 2014.

Then, in May 2006, the newspaper was sold to CS Media, a big Armenian media project. After that, Sylva Boghossian, Mr. Boghossian’s daughter was a publisher until March 2009. And finally, Wow Things Media Company purchased it.

The Armenian Reporter has released in two American editions: Eastern U.S. edition, published in Paramus, New Jersey and Western U.S. edition, published in Burbank, California.

Besides, presently, it’s also published in the Armenian language in Western Armenian in 2009 However, The Armenian Reporter is only publishing online since 2010.

Azerbaijani side opens fire in direction of Armenian Baghanis settlement, damages houses

Karapet Navasardian
Aysor, Armenia
April 3 2020

On March 30 at about 6.30pm the Azerbaijani side opened fire in the direction of Armenian settlement of Baghanis in Tavush region.

As a result roofs and windows of seven residents of Baghanis have been damaged as well as the canteen door of the school.

Bullets of different calibers were found in the sites.

Criminal case has been filed into the incident.

Ex-detachment commander on Four-Day Artsakh War and Armenian army

Garnik Tadevosian
News.am, Armenia
April 3 2020

15:43, 02.04.2020

The current ceasefire is also thanks to the boys who fought during the Four-Day Artsakh War, to a certain extent. This is what deputy of the My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, commander of the Sasun detachment Sasun Mikayelyan told reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon today.

“When every Armenian visits the military pantheon, he has to understand that Armenia is a country at war and always has to be ready for a war. Armenia must always learn the lessons, but unfortunately, the country continues to make mistakes,” he said.

Mikayelyan emphasized the fact that Armenians won the Four-Day Artsakh War in spite of the shortcomings. “The 800 hectares that we lost were not significant. It was a large-scale attack, and we showed resistance. We can’t compare today’s army with the army in 2016 because it is much stronger and more efficient and armed with state-of-the-art equipment,” he said.