What can the Armenian government do to help Armenians from Aleppo?

Aleppo and other settlements of Syria are being bombarded on a daily basis. Due to that, 200 Syrian-Armenians wish to move to Armenia. As soon as they arrive in the homeland, the government and charitable non-governmental organizations will provide the support that the nearly 17,000 Syrian-Armenians in Armenia receive. The government helps them with healthcare, education and pays part of their apartment rents.

“We can receive everyone the same way. True, that is temporary solution and not a fundamental one, but as soon as they set foot in Armenia, we quickly solve their problems,” Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Diaspora Firdus Zakaryan said in an interview with Panorama.am.

The Ministry of Diaspora doesn’t know exactly how many Syrian-Armenians have moved to Armenia following the latest bombardments in Aleppo. The figures will be announced by the end of this week.

Currently, ALEPPO Charitable Non-Governmental Organization is currently involved with dislocating Syrian-Armenians lacking financial resources. To this day, the organization has helped transport over 70 Syrian-Armenians to Armenia, and 200 are waiting for their turn.

Based on the data provided by the Ministry of Diaspora, there are 15-17,000 Armenians living in Syria, and more than half of them are based in Aleppo.

Housing is a more complicated issue for Syrian-Armenians moving to Armenia. Non-governmental organizations provide them with a part of their rents, but most Syrian-Armenians prefer to live in central Yerevan.

“Out of the 17,000, 95 percent are based in Yerevan, and some live in Kentron district and near Sakharov Square. Many complain that they pay AMD 120,000 for rent and that the organizations give them AMD 60,000,” Zakaryan stated, adding that Syrian-Armenians disregard calls to live in the outskirts of Yerevan or in the provinces of the country.

Another problem is the problem with employment and the salary. Each of the members of 4,500 Syrian-Armenian families works, but they are discontent with the amount of the salaries and have problems with receiving additional support.

“This is a common issue. There are few high-paid jobs in Armenia. Those who can start a business and grow have no problem with employment. Others complain that they can’t live a good life with their salaries. They had a better life in Syria, and that is why they often ask how citizens of Armenia can live with only an AMD 80,000 salary,” Zakaryan said.

Over the past few months, certain international organizations reduced the amounts of sums provided to Armenia for the solution to refugees’ issues. According to Zakaryan, they consider it and explain that the Syrian-Armenians are in their homeland.

“The Ministry of Diaspora and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke out and said even though they are Armenian and live in Armenia, the situation that they are in is characteristic of refugees and obtaining the passport of the Republic of Armenia doesn’t help bring them out of that situation. So, European organizations need to approach the problem like Poland or another country. Our voices have been heard,” the official stated.

Zakaryan fell short of stating the amount of money and the periods for provision. However, he said the following: “We are talking about serious amounts of money. We are holding discussions. Stating periods would be ungrateful.”

The money hasn’t been sent yet, but the Ministry of Diaspora is planning on purchasing or building homes with the money.

“This is our position. We would like to build apartments that will be provided free-of-charge. The Syrian-Armenians will live as long as they want, but they won’t have the right to sell them. If they leave, their apartments will be provided to other refugees. Discussions are in progress, and I think we will make the right decisions,” the Chief of Staff said.

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