ArmInfo. UNICEF will provide one-time cash assistance to 3,110 children aged 0-18 whose families are beneficiaries of the state family allowance system. An agreement on the provision of assistance was reached between the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Armenian office of the UN Children's Fund.
"Since thousands of parents are fighting for their way of life and income, the Armenian government has tried to expand social protection measures in order to reach the most vulnerable people. With the support of UNICEF, we hope to help not only the most vulnerable children with disabilities, but also map the need for health services and social and psychological assistance throughout the republic, and develop a unified approach to the coordination and implementation of these services in the future, "Zaruhi Batoyan noted. The amount of assistance was determined jointly with the Ministry, based on the calculation of the necessary funds to ensure the previous packages of socio-economic support and the minimum consumer basket.
``Children with disabilities, especially those living in the poorest households, disproportionately feel the negative impact of coronavirus infection. Therefore, they need additional support to cope with the crisis. If we do not take coordinated action to neutralize the socio-economic impact of coronavirus infection and retaliate against the epidemic, thousands of those already living in extremely difficult conditions will find themselves in an even more difficult situation, '' said UNICEF Representative in Armenia, UNICEF Representative in Armenia Marianne Clark-Hatting .
The assistance will be provided through the social protection system of the Republic and the Treasury together with the payment of monthly family benefits within one to two months from the date of signing the cooperation document. The partners will jointly monitor the process of the support provided. In addition to the one-time financial assistance, the UNICEF Armenian office together with the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has developed an information package for parents and guardians of 3110 children with disabilities who are beneficiaries of the program, which will be distributed with the assistance of Haypost CJSC.
As a long-term assistance, UNICEF is ready to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia for the development of mental health and psychosocial assistance services, including for families of children with disabilities.
It should be noted that assistance is provided within the framework of the cooperation program between the Armenian office of the UN Children's Fund and the Government of the Republic of Armenia for 2016- 2020, the two-year action program for 2019-2020, the UN multi-sphere program on COVID-19, as well as a joint program with the UN on COVID-19 and ensuring stability in Armenia by mitigating the socio- economic impact on vulnerable people and communities.