World Vision Armenia
14 Oct 2005
World Vision rehabilitates damaged houses in earthquake-affected Gegharkunik
region
World Vision Armenia has completed the rehabilitation of more than 160
houses spread across nine villages in north-east Gegharkunik region near the
Armenian-Azeri border, after an earthquake hit the region in March 2005.
The 5.5 Richter scale quake damaged some 500 houses, most of which were made
of stone and mud.
While most buildings remained intact, their weakened walls and ceilings made
them dangerous for habitation, especially in cold, wet conditions.
For many of the refugees from Azerbaijan living in the area, these houses
were their only assets and most did not have the means to undertake the
necessary repairs.
World Vision’s Gegharkunik Area Development Program (ADP) responded
immediately by distributing Gift-In-Kind winter clothing and coordinating
the emergency repair work to afford basic shelter and protection for
families during the harsh winter.
A World Vision assessment estimated repair costs at US$500-US$1,000 per
house, depending on the extent of damage.
World Vision provided construction materials to households that received
light damage to carry out repair work independently, as well as conducted
safety building training for the villagers. More seriously damaged houses
were rehabilitated with the help of professional builders.
Mutakhyan Anahit, mother of five from Jaghacadzor village, lamented that the
earthquake ruined the roof of their house.
“Each time it rained, it poured immediately inside the house. All day long
we were busy dredging the water out,” she said, pointing to the damp walls
in her house.
“If it was not for World Vision’s help, we would be compelled to sell our
house and move to another to survive the winter. The temperature here drops
to minus 25 degrees Celsius,” added Anahit.
Forty-three-year-old Manushakyan Hovaness lives in the village of Sotk where
the earthquake razed the carrying wall of his house to the ground.
“I was afraid our home could collapse any minute,” he said. World Vision
provided Hovaness with building material and helped to rebuild it within
five days.
The rehabilitation project was funded by World Vision offices in Hong Kong,
Switzerland, United States and United Kingdom.