UNHCR inaugurates residential block for Iraqi refugees in Armenia
03 Jul 2009 15:47:10 GMT
Source: UNHCR

DARBNIK, Armenia, July 3 (UNHCR) ` The UN refugee agency on Friday
inaugurated a special residential centre for Iraqi refugees in the
southern Armenian village of Darbnik. The building, a former
agricultural college provided to UNHCR by the government last year,
features 46 apartments and a social and recreation room. It was
rehabilitated by UNHCR implementing partner, YMCA/Shelter.

At an opening ceremony attended by government officials, diplomats,
local businesses, UN organizations, humanitarian aid workers and
refugees from Iraq, UNHCR Representative to Armenia Bushra Halepota
thanked all those who had helped in the project and wished the new
residents a dignified and happy life in Darbnik, which is located in
Ararat Marz province.

"A house is built by bricks, but a home and community are built by
hearts and it is the close link with the community that will make this
beautiful building into a happy abode for Iraqi families," she said.

Many UNHCR partners were involved in the project: the Armenian
government ensured that the building was linked to gas and electricity
networks; telecoms company VivaCell-MTS provided some vital funding;
and the United States Embassy will supply furniture for the apartments.

Hundreds of members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the
world’s oldest Christian communities, have fled Iraq to escape
sectarian violence in recent years. The majority were born in the
Middle East nation.

About 1,000 Iraqi Armenians have been granted refugee or temporary
asylum status in Armenia the past four years. They live in rented
houses in the capital, Yerevan, or in Ararat Marz and Kotayk provinces.

Most possess limited financial resources and are in urgent need of
material assistance. They also find it hard to communicate in an
unfamiliar language and a major struggle to make ends meet in an alien
land.

The UN refugee agency, working through its local implementing partners,
has been helping the most vulnerable families and promoting local
integration of the refugees. The "Social House" in Darbnik is part of
this programme and addresses the most crucial need of the refugees `
shelter.

"VivaCell-MTS, as a corporate citizen, wants to contribute to this
great programme of housing, initiated by UNHCR," said VivaCell-MTS
General Manager Ralph Yirikian, who took part in the ribbon-cutting
ceremony with Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan and others. "We,
the Armenians of Armenia, have to do our best to create the conditions
for these people [Iraqi refugees] to stay and see their children’s
future here."

By Anahit Hayrapetyan in Darbnik, Armenia