Armenia moves to welcome displaced Iraqi-Armenians

* USAPAC helps unlock UNHCR assistance--WASHINGTON – The Republic of Armenia, working closely with Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has opened the door to displaced Iraqi-Armenians, offering financial assistance and the opportunity for permanent resettlement and citizenship. One of the great human tragedies unleashed by the war in Iraq has been the wave of displaced individuals and families fleeing their homes to escape the ongoing violence. UNHCR estimates that over 2 million people have fled from Iraq, and that over 2 million additional people have been driven from their homes within Iraq. The Christian population, including Iraqi-Armenians, has been especially hard hit. U.S. Armenia Public Affairs Committee (USAPAC), the Washington-based Armenian advocacy organization, has provided leadership in the effort to bring together the governments and organizations needed to support Armenia’s refugee relocation program and to unlock the resources necessary for its implementation. Over $1,500,000 of emergency financial assistance has been delivered by UNHCR to support refugees that have already arrived in Armenia.
Working with UNHCR, the agency mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide, Armenia is providing assistance to nearly 1,000 individuals who have already arrived in Armenia, and have opened the door to welcome and integrate new refugees as they arrive. Now that the Iraqi-Armenian program has been established, individuals and international donor organizations will be better able to participate in and coordinate assistance to refugees in Armenia. The involvement of UNHCR and the U.S. government provides the international support and donor leadership to dramatically expand upon the previous efforts of Armenian NGOs. USAPAC and the Armenian advocacy community can now devote additional time and energy to building increased and ongoing support for this important program. UNHCR receives its support from a number of countries and donors around the world.
The United States is expected to play a leading role in support of UNHCR efforts on behalf of displaced Iraqis. USAPAC continues to work closely with UNHCR and the U.S. Congress and State Department to allocate additional funding for the new Iraqi- Armenian program. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Armenia to build a stronger ‘come home’ policy,” said USAPAC Executive Director Ross Vartian. “The door is open.
The American-Armenian community should play a leading role, both here in the United States and abroad, in advocating for additional resources and financial assistance in support of the Iraqi- Armenian refugee program. We commend the government of Armenia for taking on this responsibility on behalf of compatriots at risk, and we deeply appreciate the support of UNHCR and our own government for providing critical financial and policy support. Together we can transform tragedy into hope and a brighter future in Armenia.”

http://armenianreporter.am/pdfs/A0705-E.pdf