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YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS: One of the programs, sponsored by the Austrian Government to assist the needy Syrian Armenians living in our Republic, has been partially launched and the other one is in the preparatory stage. In the second half of 2013 Austria stated that it will allocate €600,000 to the refugees, who were forced to leave their houses in Syria because of the violence and get settled in Armenia.
The Armenian Red Cross Society, by the finance of Austrian Development Agency and with the support of Austrian Red Cross Society is implementing “Relief and Empowerment for Syrian Armenians” project, from October 2013 to June 2014 costing €280,000. The money will serve the Armenian Red Cross Society to provide 300 Syrian Armenian families with assistance.
The Head of Disaster Management and Population Movement Department ofArmenian Red Cross Society and Manager of “Relief and Empowerment for Syrian Armenians"project Edmon Azaryan told Armenpress that in the framework of the projectfor seven months the needy families will be provided with hygiene parcels, the people with chronic diseases – with corresponding medicine, household items 1 distribution per family, as well as beneficiaries will be given gift cards which are applicable in different shops for purchasing winter clothes and shoes.Moreover, vulnerable families will be supported with necessary equipments to build up their livelihood and generate their own income.
We clarified the final information about the number of the Syrian Armenians, settled in our country from the Head of Staff of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Firdus Zakaryan. He informed that during the last three months the Syrian Armenians come to Armenia through Lebanon. “300-400 Syrian Armenians monthly arrive in Armenia, parallel to which they leave to Syria from Armenia. It seems that the roads are closed but they leave by land, moreover, they go to their homes and shops and then come back”, - said Firdus Zakaryan.
Currently about 11,000 Syrian Armenians live in Armenia, who are permanently supported by the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia in apartment and job issues. About 1000 Syrian Armenians applied to the Ministry and were provided with jobs.