OVER 600 FAMILIES OF REFUGEES IN KARABAKH RENT APARTMENTS

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 12:25:22

In 2007 about 1700 people will be granted a status of refugee. In
2006 1449 families (5651 people) were registered as refugees, who
have already got government aid to refugees.

According to the head of the Department of Migration, Refugees and
Settlement Serge Amirkhanyan, this year the program of one-time aid
to refugees will continue.

The department will focus on housing of refugees who still live at
the dormitory of Artsakh State University. Presently 33 families
live there. They were offered to move into the 14 houses built in
Ajapniak, an outskirt of Stepanakert. However, the refugees refuse
to move into the new houses because Ajapniak is outside the city,
they say. Serge Amirkhanyan says the refugees were offered other
options. The department offers to build a house on the land bought or
rented by refugees or provide 7 million dollars to buy an apartment
(this much is provided for the construction of a house).

Serge Amirkhanyan said about 600 families still live in rented
apartments. " The program estimates providing all the refugees with
apartments until 2010.

Of course, with our budget we cannot afford to build houses for
600 families, besides we get no assistance from international
organizations. But we will try to find a way," Serge Amirkhanyan said.