UNHCR appreciates EU assistance to families affected by the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

ArmInfo. On 23 May, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, organized a ceremony in Hrazdan town, Kotayk province, to thank the European Union (EU)for its generous support that benefited families in a refugee-like situation in Armenia  displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict, improving their  integration within the host communities.  According to the press  service of the UNHCR, the contribution from the EU, in the framework  of the 2021 Inter-Agency Response Plan, enabled UNHCR to provide  timely and efficient protection support to the families in a  refugee-like situation in Armenia - among them vulnerable women,  children, older persons, and people with special needs. 

This funding supported the establishment of community support  initiatives through UNHCR partner Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS)  to strengthen peaceful co-existence between the people in a  refugee-like situation and host communities and allowed UNHCR to  carry out important activities such as protection monitoring, case  management, legal assistance, capacity building, and support to the  inter-agency coordination architecture. UNHCR also implemented  projects for women, including local women, to promote their  self-reliance through livelihoods and inclusion in the host  community.

The ceremony was held at the community-based NGO ''Resource Center  for Women's Empowerment NGO" in Hrazdan, and welcomed the  participation of the Deputy Head of Cooperation, the European Union  Delegation to Armenia, Ms. Silja Kasmann; the Mayor of Hrazdan, Mr.  Sevak Mikayelyan; the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Ms. Lila  Pieters Yahia; Anna-Carin Ost, the UNHCR Representative in Armenia;  as well as community-based NGOs, local families, and families in a  refugee-like situation and their children.

"Today's occasion," said Lila Pieters Yahia, the UN Resident  Coordinator, "will give us the opportunity to celebrate the  hospitality of the host communities and the resilience of the  displaced people who are determined to start a new life, learn and  create, and contribute to their host communities."

"UNHCR sincerely thanks the European Union for its committed support  for the families in a refugee-like situation" said Anna-Carin Ost,  UNHCR Representative in Armenia during the ceremony." EU's  contribution has enabled UNHCR and its partners to provide effective  and efficient protection and community support activities, including  psycho-social and legal support, as well as educational and  livelihoods activities, reaching around 26,000 people in a  refugee-like situation as well as the communities which have warmly  welcomed and hosted them."

"EU is very grateful to our partners, in particular UNHCR but also  other partners, for their tireless efforts to help people in need and  ensure a timely response for effective and efficient refugee  protection. For the EU, it is a priority to continue our support to  people in a refugee-like situation and host communities," mentioned  Silja Kasmann, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the European Union  Delegation to Armenia.