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GYUMRI, DECEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: The delegation of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, headed by the Head of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group René Rouqet, visited Gyumri on the 25th anniversary of the devastating earthquake in 1988. The French delegation involved Valérie Boyer,Jean-PierreDelannoy, as well as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to the Republic of Armenia Henri Reynaud.
During the visit the delegation was hosted by the Shirak Governor and Gyumri Mayor.
In the course of the meeting the French delegation members presented the French Parliament Medal to the Gyumri Mayor and the Mayor in his turn presented the guests with the book “Gyumri”.
After the meeting the French parliamentarians laid flowers to the memorial devoted to the innocent victims of the earthquake.
A quarter of a century ago the devastating earthquake of Spitak violated the peace of Armenia. On December 7 1988 at 11:41 am local time, a destructive earthquake occurred in Armenia with magnitude of 10 points in the epicenter. Within several seconds the cities of Spitak, Leninakan, Kirovakan and Stepanavan and the villages of Spitak, Akhuryan, Gugark, Aragats, Kalinino and Stepanavan were partially or fully destroyed. More than 25,000 people died and 500,000 were left homeless. The economy of Armenia faced damages of 13 billion rubles. More than 113 countries of the world and 7 international organizations provided aid to Armenia.
Hundreds of rescuers and doctors arrived in the country. A number of Diaspora Armenians hurried to the motherland bringing with them food, clothes and medicines.
Different states continued providing assistance to Armenia also during the next years after the earthquake. Italians and Austrians have built residential districts in Spitak, the Norwegians built a modern hospital and the English – a school, etc.
The Government of Armenia has allocated 78,8 billion drams to the homeless since 2007. In the framework of the program 5500 families have been provided with housing. The program will complete in 2014 aiming at providing more apartments to the earthquake survivors. Currently the number of the homeless families is 1000 and upon the completion of the program, all they will be provided with housing.