Update on Artsakh Refugee Support Fund

Dear friends and supporters,

As part of the Paros family of friends and supporters, I would like to present to you our third update on The Paros Foundation’s relief and resettlement activities surrounding the devastating Artsakh situation.

Since our brothers and sisters in Artsakh were first held hostage via blockade for almost 10 months, and then subsequently driven from their ancestral homeland, with the generous support of Paros donors, we were able to accomplish both a significant amount of humanitarian relief work and work on resettling these families into Armenia.

Last month when our team and I, and additional volunteers, were in Armenia, we worked tirelessly to move our relief efforts forward. The situation overall remains heartbreaking. While more than 100,000 people fled Artsakh and were immediately accepted into Armenia, the lack of employment and quality housing is making it difficult for these people to restart their lives. The Government of Armenia has provided rental assistance for these people, and will continue this assistance through the end of 2024. We met several people who have secured meaningful employment, however the majority of people in Yerevan are still looking for work. During my last trip in October to Armenia, we met with refugees and our general feeling was that a regular flow of humanitarian aid was being coordinated and reaching the refugees including food, clothing and some other necessities. During this trip, it was clear that most of that aid had ended.

The following is a detailed report on our work regarding Artsakh and the refugees since December 2022.

LIFELINE SUPPORT

During the blockade of the population of Artsakh (12/22-9/23), The Paros Foundation helped facilitate the urgent delivery of more than 740 tons of food to families in collaboration with other major Armenian organizations.

HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT

Following the forced exodus of our brothers and sisters from Artsakh, The Paros Foundation facilitated the delivery of more than $80,000 in direct financial assistance to displaced families from Artsakh. This was done in collaboration with a major Armenian-American organization.
In collaboration with Zadur Shoes, 500 pairs of high quality, made in Armenia, winter boots were distributed to refugees throughout Armenia. Additionally, thanks to a generous donation of St. Mary’s Armenian Church, Costa Mesa, CA, 250 pairs of new, high quality, made in Armenia, children’s winter boots were distributed to refugees in Goris, Kajaran, Vardenis and Gyumri.
170 new warm winter coats were distributed to refugees in Goris, Kajaran and Gyumri with the generous financial support of St. Mary’s Armenian Church Costa Mesa, CA.
More than 4,500 articles of new and used clothing were distributed to over 1,200 refugees in the cities of Gyumri, Vanadzor and Berd. This effort was completed in collaboration with the leadership and parishioners of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston.
Distributed firewood monthly to more than 25 Artsakh refugee families in the Vardenis village of Meds Masrik for heating and cooking. This effort was made possible both through the support of Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston and donors of The Paros Foundation.

RESETTLEMENT

We have identified permanent housing as perhaps the most critical need for the 101,000 refugees driven out of Artsakh. Permanent housing will be the largest expenditure Paros will be making. Our efforts to date include:

Conducting interviews with more than 100 families displaced from Artsakh. These interviews are ongoing both to determine these families’ needs as well as to determine their potential candidacy for our housing program.
Moving three families into new permanent homes. One of these homes is in the Vardenis village of Meds Masrik and the other two are in the Syunik community of Kajaran. The home in Meds Masrik was in need of furniture and appliances and thanks to the efforts of Mr. Eric Hacopian via his podcast, and a partnership with the Organization of Humanitarian Services for Armenia, both furniture and appliance funding was received.
Moving one family into the village of Aygepar into a fully renovated apartment. This apartment was originally damaged by shelling from Azerbaijan and was renovated following the 2020 attacks along with 14 other apartments in this same building. Furniture and appliances were provided for this apartment through our current fundraising efforts.
The purchase and current renovations of six homes for refugee families. This includes four homes in the Vardenis communities of Meds Masrik and Geghamasar, one home in the Berd community of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur, and one home in the Kajaran community of Babikavan. Four of these homes will be ready to be occupied by early April. All of these homes are in need of appliances and furniture.
Plans to build 10 new homes for displaced families in the Kajaran community of Qeti. Our team spent two days there while I was visiting to finalize the location and to meet with the construction company. A plot of land was secured and a mutually beneficial partnership was created with the local community. Each home will have a 10,000 square foot lot to farm and construction on these homes will be ready by early summer.