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(ARMENPRESS) – The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is one of the primary organizations in expressing support and assistance for integration for more than 16.000 persons who settled in Armenia because of the long war in Syria according to the official data. The External Relations Associate at the Armenian Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Anahit Hayrapetyan, during the interview with Armenpress, mentioned that people who moved to Armenia from Syria have gotten used to the conditions here, introduced to the market, and have a great potential for integration.
How many persons moved to Armenia since the beginning of Syrian war and how many of them were provided a citizenship and refugee status?
The calculation is done through the principle how many people have come in and come out. Overall, about 19 thousand people arrived in Armenia from Syria from who 16,000 people settled here. 80% of Syrian-Armenians have Armenian citizenship, about 20% – residency status of various duration and only 500-600 persons – refugee status. However, regardless of citizenship or refugee status, we equally provide the same assistance to all of them if we see such need during our planned visits.
In general, what kinds of programs were implemented for displaced persons from Syria in 2015?
First, almost 90 percent of people settled in Armenia are from Syria who receive assistance starting from basic first aid to the business loans. For example, when a displaced family arrives in Armenia, they get the necessary items for passing the first days: Children’s diapers, cooking and hygienic supplies, food and sleeping pad. Then, the family is provided a bank account to which the flat fee reimbursement amount is transferred, of course, if it is not located in the city center.
How does aid for displaced persons from other countries differ?
There is a very big difference between the aid provided to displaced persons from Syria and, for instance – from Iraq and Ukraine. A total of about 1,000 persons emigrated from Iraq and we helped them to stand up and with housing. Emergency assistance and integration programs are being implemented for 130 Ukrainian emigrants who have a refugee status in Armenia.