ReliefWeb

Appeal Target: US$ 195,774 Balance Requested: US$ 195,774

Geneva, 15 February 2013

Dear Colleagues, The ongoing armed conflict in Syria has caused immense human suffering and widespread displacement. According to UNHCR, over 820,000 Syrian refugees are registered or are awaiting registration in neighboring countries. An estimated 7,000 (and the number is increasing) Syrian Armenians have fled their homes in Syria to seek refuge in Armenia. Up to date more than 2,000 families are registered with the Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia. Only a small percentage of the refugees have found jobs but most of them are without regular income to sustain their lives. The Armenian Government is providing support along with UN agencies and national and international NGOs. However, only these people who are officially registered as refugees are benefitting from it. Already in 2012, the Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation (ART) has provided assistance to the most vulnerable refugees from Syria currently residing in and around Yerevan. With an amount of appr. 40,000 USD from the ACT Rapid Response Fund project (RRF 11-2012) ART was able to provide live saving assistance. With the appeal on hand, ART hopes to raise 195,774 USD to provide additional support to the most vulnerable refugees for the period of 2 months. The project will be carried out in Yerevan and surrounding areas and assistance will be provided in terms of food, non-food items, and psycho-social support to a total of 2,500 people.