Syrian-Armenians brought a new level to service sector: Armenian Office of UNHCR

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. The Syrian-Armenians are descendants of the Armenian families that were saved by Nansen. The idea of patriotism helps them to resist the difficulties they face after moving to Armenia. The External Relations Associate at the Armenian Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Anahit Hayrapetyan told “Armenpress”.

“The people who emigrated from Azerbaijan at the end of 80s and at the beginning of 90s appeared here without any ideology, in a crumbling but familiar country, the international community did not pay much attention to the issue in those times. And those people, who emigrated from Syria and had mainly lived in the Armenian ghetto of Aleppo, where visiting a fitness club cost little money, had wonderful businesses,” Anahit Hayrapetyan said.

The External Relations Associate at the Armenian Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confessed that they made many mistakes during the migration of the refugees from Azerbaijan and the activities of their integration as they were novices and there were many problems. However, she noted that in contrast to the existing conditions required for the integration of the Syrian-Armenians, many mistakes were made even during the flow of Iraqi refugees; there was no coordinated working schedule, credit system.

Today the Syrian-Armenians are mainly engaged in restaurant industry in Yerevan and have brought a new level to service sector. However, according to the External Relations Associate at the Armenian Office of the UNHCR, many of the Syrian-Armenians are wonderful software programmers, jewellers and hairdressers.

Anahit Hayrapetyan also spoke about the opinions that the newly opened businesses do damage to the businesses of the locals. She noted that if the businesses of the locals decline, it means they do not correspond to market requirements.

In reply to the question as how many Syrian-Armenians settling in Armenia are unemployed, UN representative told “Armenpress” that there are lots of jobs offered but these people need time to learn how to make a living, for instance, with a salary of 60 thousand AMD when a much higher salary is offered for the same job in Syria.

She also emphasized that women in Syria do not work, but many of them started to work in Armenia and this is really a brave step taken by them.

Anahit Hayrapetyan said that psychological support for integration is also provided to the Syrian Armenians so that they achieve success in new business conditions.