Acting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia Narek Mkrtchyan met with Paul Gavan, Rapporteur on ‘Humanitarian Consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict’ of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
During the meeting, a number of issues related to the deported, captured and missing persons as a result of the battles unleashed by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) were discussed.
The Acting Minister presented about 20 social assistance measures implemented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for the people of Artsakh.
“During the war, more than 90,000 displaced people from Artsakh settled in Armenia, most of whom returned. As of April, there are about 22,400 residents displaced from Artsakh in Armenia. The people of Artsakh settled in Armenia, who need the care of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia use the necessary services. Thirty-four children from boarding care institutions of Artsakh have been placed in short-term care at the SOS Children’s Villages Armenian Charitable Foundation. About 380 adults have been placed in the 24-hour care facilities under the Ministry, and about 100 continue to receive care,” said Narek Mkrtchyan.
According to the Acting Minister, in addition to the implemented social assistance programs, the citizens of the Artsakh Republic, including children, who were in Armenia during the three-month period of the martial law, were provided with assistance as needed through a simplified procedure. As of May 5, 2021, 175 citizens received 346 support measures (including wheelchairs, prostheses, orthoses, prostheses, etc.).
Paul Gavan, Rapporteur on ‘Humanitarian Consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict’ of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) thanked for the comprehensive information provided, noting that the meeting will be effective in preparing the report.
“Until now, I have not had the opportunity to visit Artsakh. This meeting is very important for me, because most of my report will be about displaced persons, so it is possible to understand how they were treated, what help they received, what help they need now,” said Paul Gavan.
The meeting continued with a question-and-answer session, during which Acting deputy ministers Anna Zhamakochyan and Ruben Sargsyan referred to the addressing of social assistance programs for the Armenians of Artsakh and the difficulties faced by the people of Artsakh in the post-war period. Zhamakochyan and Sargsyan also referred to the cooperation with international organizations, noting that the majority of the partners assist only the people of Artsakh settled in Armenia.
According to the acting deputy ministers, the Ministry paid special attention to the special needs of women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities in the issue of accommodation for citizens displaced from Artsakh. They noted that school-age children were accommodated in dormitories close to schools, and those with disabilities or health problems, such as the injured, and their families in dormitories near medical facilities.
At the end of the meeting, the Acting Minister expressed hope that such meetings would help impartial and objective presentation of the problems of the people of Artsakh.
