US Ambassador, UN High Commissioner For Refugees Representative Present Post-Trauma Rehabilitation Center With Computers, Exercise Equipment For Rehabilitation Of Refugees

US State News
June 23, 2009 Tuesday 5:53 PM EST

YEREVAN, Armenia, March 12 — The U.S. Embassy issued the following
press release:

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie L. Yovanovitch and the Representative
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Armenia,
Ms. Bushra Halepota, presented the Armenian Red Cross-Post Trauma
Rehabilitation Center (PTRC) today with computers, exercise equipment
and other equipment purchased by PTRC from a USD 20,000 grant from
the U.S. Department of State’s Taft Fund for Refugees. The equipment
includes four treadmills, four computers and accompanying desks/chairs
as well as a TV and DVD. UNHCR supplemented the U.S. Embassy grant
with its own USD 10,000 grant under which PTRC provides free physical
rehabilitation and psycho-social counseling to Iraqi refugees who
left Iraq to seek protection in Armenia. Approximately 1,000 Iraqi
refugees currently live in Armenia. Many of them suffer from physical
and psychological traumas as a result of violent events experienced
in Iraq related to the conflict. UNHCR has implemented a number of
projects for assistance to refugees in Armenia in partnership with its
long term partner, Armenian Red Cross Society. After brief remarks
by Ambassador Yovanovitch and Ms. Halepota, PTRC Director Alexandr
Mnatsakanyan provided a tour of the hospital facilities after the
official ribbon-cutting ceremony which was attended by government
authorities, UNHCR implementing partners and Iraqi refugees .