2023-10-08 12:06:22
Nearly 100 million euros to help some 231,000 people. On Saturday, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched an appeal for $97 million to help refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia and those hosting them. This involves providing assistance to 136,000 refugees and 95,000 members of local host communities.
The Armenia Emergency Response Plan for Refugees (RRP) runs until the end of March and brings together 60 partners, including 43 national NGOs, underlines the UNHCR in a press release.
“The plan also takes into account the upcoming harsh winter months, during which essential support will be needed,” underlines the UNHCR, with this massive arrival of refugees equivalent to 3.4% of Armenia’s total population. These come in addition to 35,000 other refugees, asylum seekers and stateless people who were already in Armenia.
International support “crucial” to maintain the reception of refugees
“We call on the international community to urgently support the refugees and their hosts,” insisted Filippo Grandi, who heads the UNHCR and knows from experience that since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the global economic difficulties, it is difficult to raise sufficient funds, even to deal with the most serious humanitarian crises. While local communities and Armenian authorities have been generous, “international support is nevertheless crucial to maintain this welcome and enable us to respond to immediate needs and take advantage of the resilience of this population,” added the High Commissioner. .
The Refugee Response Plan “will support and complement the government’s response, with a focus on protection and emergency assistance,” the statement said. It notably focuses on protection against gender-based violence, child protection and education, as well as food security and nutrition, health, resilience, shelter and non-food items. This plan also places a longer-term emphasis on inclusion and education as well as the strengthening of national public services, underlines the UNHCR.
After a lightning offensive by Azerbaijani forces in September, almost the entire Armenian population fled the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia.
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