On October 17, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan participated and delivered remarks at the launch of the Refugee Response Program.
In his speech, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan, particularly noted:
“Thank you for attending the launch of the Refugee Response Program. Armenia has faced refugee issues since the first days of its independence and with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other partners, tried to do its best to help and alleviate the needs of people who have been forced to leave their motherland and home due to threats to life and freedom.
The United Nations and multilateral international cooperation have traditionally been based on the thesis of human and societal progress, but after three decades, facing a humanitarian crisis of such magnitude gives rise to other thoughts. Unfortunately, in 2023 the UN could not activate its early response mechanism, even though there were many reports that the rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh were being grossly violated for months.
The people of Nagorno-Karabakh were under the blockade for about 10 months, in conditions of lack of food, medicine, other basic necessities, and fuel. This was followed by the military aggression of Azerbaijan targeting the civilian population and civilian infrastructure. As a result, in just a few days the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh was forcibly displaced.
Armenia received more than 100,000 people who had to leave their homes within hours. Many of them were unable to take even basic necessities and documents with them. A lot of refugees from Nagorno Karabakh have serious health problems, including psychological ones, due to the lack of access to medical care in recent months, malnutrition and the fact of living in an atmosphere of constant fear. More than 100 refugees have serious physical problems as a result of the explosion in Stepanakert after the military aggression.
Regrettably, despite the efforts of Armenia, during these months it was not possible to ensure access of the UN bodies on the ground. Azerbaijan allowed a visit of the UN delegation on a limited status after it had already carried out the ethnic cleansing of Armenians.
In these conditions, it is more than important that the refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh feel that they are not alone and abandoned. It is important that they feel the power of international support and solidarity.
Not only short-term programs should be launched for the refugees, but also mid-term works should be planned, sustainable livelihood should be ensured, their accommodation, education, employment and other issues should be resolved. It is also important to be prepared for the coming winter.
In this sense, the problem of proper distribution and proper coordination of work is more than valuable. Humanitarian Coordination Platform for Refugee Situation, created under the leadership of the Government, particularly leaded by Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, is a flexible response mechanism, the aim of which is to provide the fastest and most coordinated solutions to the problems of refugees in close cooperation with international partners.
Welcoming the Refugee Response Program, I should note that it aims to support the efforts of the Government of Armenia in equally using the potential of humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, international and local NGOs.
While concentrating on providing protection and assistance to refugees - financial support, resolving accommodation and other issues - the Program will also support host communities, keeping focus on vulnerable groups such as children, women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, etc.
International protection and assistance to refugees also considers long-term solutions that include the implementation of their right to voluntary return in safety and dignity as defined by international law.
I would like to take this opportunity once again to thank the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, represented by Mr. Leclerc and his colleagues for promoting the issue in the international fora and for effective cooperation.
Thank you.”
