GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with UN agencies and NGO partners, is appealing for US$97 million to provide urgent humanitarian aid and protection to refugees and those generously hosting them in Armenia, in support of the government-led response.
Syuzanna and her four children are among the more than 100,000 refugees who arrived in Armenia in less than a week. © UNHCR/Karen Minasyan
The Armenia Emergency Refugee Response Plan (RRP), launched today, brings together 60 partners, including 43 national NGOs, and covers relief efforts for a six-month period, until the end of March 2024. The joint plan aims to support some 196,000 people including 101,000 refugees and 95,000 members of local host communities. The plan also takes into account the upcoming, harsh winter months, when critical support will be required.
Following the escalation of hostilities at the end of September, more than 100,000 refugees arrived in Armenia in less than a week. Among new arrivals, are some 30,000 children and many vulnerable people including pregnant women, people with disabilities and others with chronic health conditions. More than half of the refugees are older people and children.
Many fled with just the few possessions they were able to grab, and arrived distressed, exhausted and apprehensive about the future. They now require critical support.
Davit Tsaturyan, 76, and his wife are sitting on suitcases in the small border town of Goris, after fleeing to Armenia with their children and grandchildren. © UNHCR/Karen Minasyan
Having to absorb more than a hundred thousand refugees in a matter of days, there is immense pressure on the host community in Armenia and on existing national services. Refugee arrivals represent over 3.4 per cent of the country’s population and are in addition to a pre-existing refugee, asylum seeker and stateless population of some 35,000 people.
“We call upon the international community to urgently support refugees and their hosts. Local host communities have generously opened their doors and displayed tremendous solidarity with refugees. The local response, led by national authorities, volunteers and civil society, has also been equally remarkable. International support is crucial however, to sustain this welcome and to enable us to respond to immediate needs and to also build upon the resilience of this population”, said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Refugee Response Plan will support and complement the government response, with an emphasis on emergency protection and assistance, while at the same time focusing on inclusion, resilience, and solutions from the start, targeting both refugees and the host communities.
Arpine, UNHCR, receives the first batch of humanitarian aid for refugees who fled to Armenia in September 2023. © UNHCR/Hrant Sahakyan
It covers multiple sectors, notably protection – with a focus on gender-based violence, child protection and education, as well as food security and nutrition, health, resilience, shelter and non-food items and with a longer-term focus on inclusion and the strengthening of national public services.
For more information, please contact:
Armenia Emergency Refugee Response Plan
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