Photo exhibition puts refugee issues back in spotlight
‘Refugees in Gegharkunik Marz of Armenia: 15 years on’, was a unique collaborative effort aimed at bringing up problems of refugees from Azerbaijan to the attention of governmental agencies, NGOs, mass media and the general public.
The event concluded in a roundtable discussion of problems faced by refugees and possible ways of addressing some of their most pressing needs. Organised into a comprehensive proposal, some of these suggestions, as well as the photos will soon find their way to international agencies in Yerevan.
“Refugees are poverty-stricken. A number of international organisations operating in the area, such as the World Vision, MSF, and others, and bring some relief to them,” says World Vision Gegharkunik ADP Manager Vardan Aghajanyan.
Refugees are the most vulnerable population in Gegharkunik. Eight out of 10 poorest communities in the region are those of refugees. They mostly live in mountainous areas where the harsh climate, and the lack of agricultural equipment, seeds and irrigation water make farming next to impossible.
People rely mainly on small pensions and allowances which leave them wanting even in their most basic needs. Having left behind in Azerbaijan their homes, property and savings, these people even now, 15 years later, have to struggle for survival.
“If not these international organisations and NGOs, our villages would be ruined,” says leader of Shatvan refugee community Levon Abrahamyan. “I want to thank World Vision for being the first to offer us a helping hand after the earthquake by distributing clothes and renovating damaged houses.
“Due to their animal breeding project we now have a significant number of sows in our village. That is how development should be,” he says.
World Vision’s Gegharkunik ADP was established in October 2004 to foster development of this poorest – according to the UN – region of Armenia. Besides long-term development projects aimed at income generation and building sustainable livelihoods, the ADP implements food and Gifts-in-Kind distribution to address the immediate needs of the vulnerable children and families.
The event concluded in a roundtable discussion of problems faced by refugees and possible ways of addressing some of their most pressing needs. Organised into a comprehensive proposal, some of these suggestions, as well as the photos will soon find their way to international agencies in Yerevan.
“Refugees are poverty-stricken. A number of international organisations operating in the area, such as the World Vision, MSF, and others, and bring some relief to them,” says World Vision Gegharkunik ADP Manager Vardan Aghajanyan.
Refugees are the most vulnerable population in Gegharkunik. Eight out of 10 poorest communities in the region are those of refugees. They mostly live in mountainous areas where the harsh climate, and the lack of agricultural equipment, seeds and irrigation water make farming next to impossible.
People rely mainly on small pensions and allowances which leave them wanting even in their most basic needs. Having left behind in Azerbaijan their homes, property and savings, these people even now, 15 years later, have to struggle for survival.
“If not these international organisations and NGOs, our villages would be ruined,” says leader of Shatvan refugee community Levon Abrahamyan. “I want to thank World Vision for being the first to offer us a helping hand after the earthquake by distributing clothes and renovating damaged houses.
“Due to their animal breeding project we now have a significant number of sows in our village. That is how development should be,” he says.
World Vision’s Gegharkunik ADP was established in October 2004 to foster development of this poorest – according to the UN – region of Armenia. Besides long-term development projects aimed at income generation and building sustainable livelihoods, the ADP implements food and Gifts-in-Kind distribution to address the immediate needs of the vulnerable children and families.
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