Category: 2020

World Bank approves EUR 17.9 million loan for additional funding of SILD project in Armenia

Mary Lazarian

Save

Share

 14:51,

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the EUR 17.9 million loan for the Additional Financing of the Social Investment and Local Development (SILD) project in Armenia.

This project will further assist the Government of Armenia in improving the quality, access to, and use of community and intercommunity infrastructure and services, the World Bank said in a news release.

 “The new project will directly benefit about 55 communities, of which 35 are in newly consolidated communities, mostly rural, enabling them to identify their own investment needs,” said Sylvie Bossoutrot, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia. “I am particularly pleased that this project will also seek to support income generating activities at the community level that could help open economic opportunities.”

WATCH: Armenian HAZMAT team’s standard protocol for congratulating quarantined people on birthday

Emil Lazarian

Save

Share

 16:08,

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. Ever since the novel coronavirus situation began and number of quarantined people began to grow, many of the isolated citizens started to praise and thank the healthcare authorities for their care and level of attention. At one time, the international press even wrote about the “5-star quarantine” conditions in Armenia, referring to the fact that authorities placed the first group of quarantine citizens in a luxury hotel.

Now, seems like the hazmat doctors even have a standard procedure on how to cheer up the quarantined nationals on their birthdays. 

One of the quarantined people, a woman who turned 33, was surprised by the medical personnel at an unspecified facility in Armenia on this special occasion. 

The entire hazmat personnel, carrying a birthday cake with candles and other sweets, knocked on the door and began singing “happy birthday” to the woman. Understandably, the hazmat medic carrying the cake leaned a bit away when the woman was blowing the candles.

“Happy Birthday: at one of the quarantine facilities, where I am the team lead, this is how we congratulate the birthday of one of our temporarily quarantined countrymen,” healthcare manager Narek Vanesyan said on social media and posted the video.

As of March 21, there are 159 active novel coronavirus cases in Armenia. 1 patient has recovered.

More than 600 people are quarantined.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Armenia reports second coronavirus recovery, active cases stand at 158

Khoyetsian Rose

Save

Share

 21:04,

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. The second patient to have recovered from the novel coronavirus in Armenia will be discharged today, March 21, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan said.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases so far stands at 160, with 158 being active after this recovery. The first patient recovered on March 15th. The remaining patients are hospitalized.

“Today we are discharging our second recovered patient, whose test results came back negative,” Torosyan said, adding that the patient’s mother – who was quarantined with the patient for 21 days in the same room – will also be discharged. The mother of the patient never even tested positive. “All her tests were negative to this day,” Torosyan said, not ruling out the possibility that the woman might have had contracted the virus but it went unnoticed due to speedy recovery.

“I wish good health to all other patients and I thank our epidemiologists and infectious diseases specialists for their work. I advise all other citizens to maintain personal protection measures, as well as the rules of the state of emergency,” Torosyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Armenia shuts down entertainment venues due to coronavirus

Yeghisabet Arthur

Save

Share

 18:38,

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan, the superintendent of the state of emergency which is in force until April 14th due to the coronavirus, has ordered the shutdown of shopping centers, nightclubs, discos, casinos, bookmakers and movie theaters. The order is effective until April 14th. It does not cover restaurants.

Food and liquor stores will remain open.

The order is effective from March 22, 00:01.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

WHO Director General gives healthy lifestyle Advice for stay-at-home period amid COVID19 pandemic

Alex Nanijanian

WHO Director General gives healthy lifestyle advises for stay-at-home period amid COVID19 pandemic

Save

Share

 15:40,

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS. World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has given some advises on how to stay healthy and stress-free while staying at home during the global novel coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic.

“Life is changing dramatically for many of us, but it’s important to continue looking after your physical and mental health”, the WHO chief said on Twitter.

Ghebreyesus advises to:

“1. Eat a healthy & nutritious diet, which helps your immune system to function properly.

  1. Limit your alcohol consumption & avoid sugary drinks.
  2. Don’t smoke. Smoking can increase your risk of developing severe disease if you become infected with #COVID19
  3. Exercise WHO recommends 30 minutes of physical activity for adults, and 1h/day for children.
  4. Look after your mental health. It’s normal to feel stressed, confused and scared”

“If your local or national guidelines allow it, go outside for a walk, a run or a ride, and keep a safe distance from others. If you can’t leave the house, find an exercise video online, dance to music, do some yoga, or walk up and down the stairs. If you’re working at home during #COVID19, make sure you don’t sit in the same position for long periods. Get up and take a 3-minute break every 30 minutes. #HealthyAtHome,” the WHO director added, advising also to listen to music, read books or playing gamed. “Try not to read or watch too much news if it makes you anxious. Get your #COVID19 information from reliable sources once or twice a day.”

Photo:  

Asbarez: An Appeal to all Armenians

Bedik Zaminian

Armenian Revolutionary Federation

These days, everyone around the world is impacted by the crisis touched off by the Coronoavirus. This pandemic is serious and continues its unabated spread, infecting many and claiming significant casualties.

Naturally, our nation and our homeland are also experiencing this disaster. The large family of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, with all its entities, rank and file, Hai-Tahd offices, committee, youth and students structures and affiliate organizations—ARS, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen—as well as supporters with their institutions and circles, places all its abilities in service of our people, especially Armenia and Artsakh, with a resolve to provide the optimum assistance.

Thus, we call on all our structures in different communities to make a special effort to serve our people and assist especially the less protected and endangered sectors, regardless of they ideological or denominational affiliation. To this end, certain project have already been initiated in several communities. These efforts will expand more vigorously.

Furthermore, in collaboration with the ARS, we have already provided hundreds of thousands dollars worth assistance to Armenia and Artsakh and will continue to provide the essentials. To this end, we are in contact with the relevant bodies in both republics. Thus, we call on everyone to take part, with pan-Armenian support, in the efforts put forth by the government of the Republic of Armenia to prevent and contain the Coronavirus.

Dear Compatriots,
The current situation call for the coalescing of our national efforts and unity, discipline and strength so that we can confront the dangers facing our homeland and our people. We are confident that by coming together we can circumvent this situation as well. We would like to assure everyone that we are monitoring the situation and its layers closely, and would like to once again stress that we will place our entire capabilities at the service of our people.

ARF Bureau




Thousands of volunteers in Armenia helping doctors combat coronavirus

Yeghisabet Arthur
JAM News
20.03.2020
    JAMNEWS

Thousands of citizens have heeded the Armenian government’s call for volunteers to step forward and assist in coronavirus containment and treatment efforts.

As of March 20, 136 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Armenia. Since March 16, a state of emergency has been declared to stop the spread of the virus.

Within 24 hours of the call, the ministry received more than two thousand resumes from people who were ready to become volunteers.

“Dear compatriots, the Ministry of Health thanks you all for the promptly responding to our call for volunteers. At the moment, we have collected a sufficient number of resumes and are temporarily not accepting new applications,”  wrote Alina Nikoghosyan, spokeswoman for the ministry, on her Facebook page.

People are helping however they can. Some are delivering food and medicine by car, volunteer nurses and medical university students provide more professional support, and psychologists have also joined the cause.

There has been a shortage of masks since March 2, just one day after the first case was reported in Armenia. People complained on social networks that there were no masks available in pharmacies.

Gegham Gevorgyan, Chairman of the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition, announced that they are simply not being produced in Armenia.

After that, people started posting and sharing posts about people who are sewing medical masks for their families and passing them out to people on the street for free. This happened primarily in the city of Etchmiadzin, which was declared the epicenter of the spread of coronavirus.

One of them is Misha Davtyan. His mother is sewing masks and he is sterilizing them and handing them out at medical centers.

“We have already distributed 3000 masks, and they served their purpose. It makes me happy and encourages me to continue doing this work,” says Misha.

Masks are also being sewn by the family of Echmiadtzin resident Armen Abrahamyan.

“This is the fifth day since we started sewing masks. All of them are sterilized in a hospital setting. On the first day, we sewed 56 masks, and now we have 3500. We have provided masks to the hospital in Echmiadzin, a polyclinic, a maternity hospital, and police stations. We distribute the rest to ordinary citizens,” says Armen.

The initiative was then picked up in other cities. In particular, in Alaverdi, ten volunteer activists began to sew masks. They say that they asked doctors what materials are best to use. They wear gloves while sewing them, and then sterilize them and distribute them to passers-by on the streets.

Armenia media organizations urge government to repeal 23, 24, 25 and 26 provisions of decision on state of emergency

Andranik Taslakhchian
News.am, Armenia

00:23, 21.03.2020
                  

YEREVAN. – Several Armenia-based media organizations protested against the provisions of the state of emergency that regulate the dissemination of information.  

“We have expressed, and in various formats, our negative opinion on the provisions regulating the dissemination of information in the Government’s decision on declaring a state of emergency in the Republic of Armenia.

As these provisions have entered into force, we note that their use is ineffective, disproportionate, inconsistent with the principle of reasonableness, and is not in public interest amid pandemic,” the organizations said in an open letter addressed to the government. 

The media organizations call on the government and commandant’s office to immediately repeal 23, 24, 25 and 26 provisions of the government’s N298 decision to declare a state of emergency as of March 16.

They also called to draft new regulations for dissemination of information that will clarify possible restrictions, will contribute to media’s commitment to professional norms, and will ensure effective partnership between the state agencies and media.

Media representatives expressed willingness to provide assistance.

The open letter was signed by Yerevan Press Club, Media Initiatives Center, Freedom of Information Center, Public Journalism Club, Committee to Protect Freedom of _expression_, Asparez Journalists’ Club, Media Diversity Institute – Armenia, Journalists for the Future NGO, Journalists for Human Rights NGO , Goris Press Club and Rule of Law NGO.

Creative approaches to reforestation and afforestation: The Armenian experience

Greg Madatian
Emerging Europe
Emerging Europe

Armenia’s goal to double its forest cover by 2050 as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change has captured the attention of the public and of professionals in the field.

The reforestation goal presents many challenges and opportunities for Armenia, including the creation of new nurseries, expansion of habitat for plants and animals, and joining the fight against global climate change because trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One concern expressed by experts at the Forest Summit is the availability of land. At least 250,000 hectares of new forest is needed to achieve Armenia’s long-term goal.

Armenia’s goal was discussed late last year at Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia, organised by Armenia Tree Project (ATP) and American University of Armenia’s Acopian Center for the Environment.

Given Armenia’s diversity of microclimates and potential limitations on available land, creative approaches to reforestation and afforestation must be implemented. ATP has 25 years of experience successfully planting in all regions of Armenia and will continue to provide leadership in Armenia’s sustainable development. Experts from Lebanon, Kenya, and Israel who participated in the summit offered interesting examples of creative solutions employed in their countries.

The terms reforestation and afforestation are sometimes used interchangeably, and it’s worth pausing for a moment to define them: reforestation refers to planting trees on land that was previously forest, whereas afforestation refers to planting trees on patches of land which were not previously covered in forest.

Experts warn Armenia to avoid monoculture plantations

Forester Omri Bonneh shared several insights during the summit from the experiences of KKL-Jewish National Fund. For example, from 1920 to 1970 afforestation in Israel was characterised by dense coniferous plantations. A massive dieback of the planted pine trees during the 1970s and 1990s caused by an invasive pest triggered a change in forestry policy. “We realised ‘putting all our eggs in one basket’ by planting monocultures of this one tree was not a sensible approach to develop a sustainable forest,” explained Dr Bonneh. “We changed our forestry policy in 1990. The new policy had the goal to create mixed, multilayer forests that more closely resemble natural forests.”

This is instructive for Armenia, which has many Soviet-era monoculture plantations. He urged Armenia to avoid Israel’s past mistakes with monoculture plantings, and find the right way to create mixed forests that are healthier than monoculture plantations. The concern about monoculture plantings was repeated throughout the Summit by international and local experts.

Dr Bonneh also shared examples from the deserts of southern Israel, where there is a low rainfall similar to Yerevan. JNF has restored landscapes in these areas that were destroyed by overgrazing and soil erosion. Planting trees in dry riverbeds and training farmers to harvest water have been successful.

Keynote speaker Dr Anthony Davis reminded summit attendees that now is the time to define what the future forests will look like. With thoughtful planning about which trees to plant and where to plant them, Armenia’s reforestation efforts will renew, regenerate, and sustain rural economies and natural ecosystems.

Sose and Allen Forest: An example of ATP’s afforestation efforts

ATP has 25 years of experience in Armenia, with more than 1,000 hectares of new forests planted at over 30 sites. One example is the Sose and Allen Memorial Forest established in 2014 in Stepanavan. “The ATP team is always scouting for locations in northern Armenia to plant new forests,” explained Forestry Manager Navasard Dadyan. “When we got to Stepanavan and applied to the municipality about land, they offered this 17 hectare location for a new forest.”

The reason ATP’s forests are planted in northern Armenia is because the Mirak Family Reforestation Nursery is located in the Lori region, and seedlings do best if planted in a similar environment to where they originated.

The Sose and Allen Forest was planted as a living memorial for the young couple Sose Thomassian and Allen Yekikian, who died in an auto accident in 2013. Their friends and family crowdfunded to support this project with ATP, and many of their friends were present at the first plantings in 2014.

The site is a prominent hillside in Stepanavan where there is an ancient cross-stone that is often visited by local people, so it has a high recreation value. The local community only has one public park and this area will allow people to enjoy the shade of these new trees. The location is grassland so it has been used for livestock grazing. Luckily the area was only partially impacted by erosion which is common in hilly areas with low tree cover, so the soil is suitable for a new forest.

“The Sose and Allen Memorial Forest improves the ecology of the area overall,” noted Mr Dadyan. “Eventually, the public will be able to collect mushrooms that grow in the forest, and spend hot summer days there in the shade. It’s also worth noting that the local community is aware of the effects of climate change, and recognised the importance of forests as a solution to the problem.”

In order to identify and establish new forest areas, ATP’s experts meet with the local community and leadership to get their agreement on the use of a site. Consensus and cooperation is essential in order to ensure the sustainability of the planting over time. In the case of Stepanavan, ATP met with the community to communicate their plans, and the feedback was positive. This is also important because many sites require protection and long-term monitoring and maintenance. In order to protect the Sose and Allen Forest from damage and livestock grazing, the area was fenced off before any plantings began. ATP’s experts examined the soil to determine which species of trees would survive and thrive in the new forest.

Mr Dadyan recalled the first year of establishing the site: “Two bus-loads of volunteers from Lori joined the planting. Another big bus came from Yerevan, including friends and family of Sose and Allen. We also created temporary jobs by hiring 50-60 people to help plant the trees.”

From 2014 to 2019, 73,589 trees were planted at the site including the following species: oak, ash, maple, pine, and wild apple. The survival rate is 60 per cent, which is higher than international average for a forestry planting.

As Armenia plans to double its forest cover by 2050, a site selection process such as that used in the example of ATP’s Sose and Allen Forest will be applied all over the country by every organisation involved in the reforestation effort. ATP’s experts will share their knowledge and recommendations based on its 25 years of experience. Careful site selection, enlisting support from the community, and providing ongoing care for the seedlings will result in healthy new forests and a more sustainable ecological future for Armenia.

—

Photo: The Sose and Allen Memorial Forest in Stepanavan was planted with a mix of tree species including ash (pictured), oak, maple, pine, and wild apple.