INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY TEAM SET UP IN ARMENIA

ARKA
Aug 20, 2008

YEREVAN, August 20. /ARKA/. The United Nations Country Team in Armenia
established a Task Force chaired by UNHCR comprising UNICEF, UNDP,
WFP and WHO to join efforts with the Government of Armenia to assess
the population movement to Armenia as a consequence of the Georgia
situation and prepare a contingency plan, UNHCR press office reports.

"The effort of the UN Country Team intends to complement the response
capacity of the Government of Armenia to humanitarian assistance
needs that may arise", the press release says.

The press release points out that the Government of Armenia has a
functioning system on the ground and border authorities have handled
the mass flow of new arrivals efficiently.

New arrivals are predominantly Georgian citizens of Armenian ethnicity,
among those, a large majority is women and children who fled to
stay with extended family members and friends in Armenia, fearing a
worsening security situation in Georgia.

Border entry figures for the first 10 days after the conflict in
Georgia indicate that from 8 – 18 August 2008, a total of 10,730
foreigners entered into Armenia at Bagratashen, which is only one of
the three main entry points into Armenia from Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress