Armenia - OCHA-04: 1-30.Apr.98

Armenia
OCHA Report No. 04
Situation Report from the OCHA Coordinator in ARMENIA - No. 4
April 1998


HIGHLIGHTS
- A new Cabinet of Ministers has been appointed on 20 April.
- According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, currently 246,000 refugees
  live in the country.
- The Government of Japan made a contribution worth 300 million yens to
  Armenia through WFP.
- Investment worth USD 200-300 million is required for programme of
  restoration of drinking water supply system throughout the country.


SITUATION OVERVIEW

Political Development

The inauguration ceremony of the new President Robert Kocharian was held
at the Opera House on 9 April. In his inauguration speech following the
swearing-in ceremony, President Kocharian presented his five-year plan,
pledging to lead the country into democratization and economic recovery
while pursuing a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Mr.
Kocharian said that only an economically developed and strong Armenia
would be able to solve the numerous problems it is facing today.

President Robert Kocharian signed an order on 10 April appointing former
Finance and Economy Minister Armen Darbinian as the Prime Minister. Prime
Minister Armen Darbinian named a new government on 20 April. The new
cabinet is due to put forward an economic programme within 20 days so that
the National Assembly can hold a vote of confidence in the Government and
its programme. Of the twenty ministers named, ten served in the previous
government, and ten are new appointees. One government post remains
vacant. At a news conference held on 21 April. Prime Minister said the
Government has been appointed for one year and that an extension of their
term in office will depend on their performance. He stressed that Armenia
will continue to adhere to cooperation agreements it has signed with
international economic organisations.


Economic Performance

The total cost of the 18 programmes the World Bank approved for
implementation in Armenia is USD 385,335,000, Babken Babajanian of the
World Bank reported. He noted that six programmes, among which is the
programme on restoration of the earthquake area, have already been
completed or are at the stage of completion. Among the largest World Bank
programmes are two loans SAC 1 and SAC 2 (USD 60 millions each) and the
economic restoration loan. All these programmes are aimed at stabilizing
the economy and developing reforms. In addition to these loans, the World
Bank has also financed projects on technical equipment for government
structures, with SATAC 1 and SATAC 2 (USD 3.8 and 5 million respectively).
In total, the World Bank has funded six structural reform programmes in
Armenia. Other World Bank programmes aim at developing the power sector,
industrial enterprises, social infrastructure, road reconstruction,
education, health care, agriculture, as well as environmental measures. In
addition to lend programmes, currently the World Bank finances research to
assess poverty and the number of citizens in need of monetary assistance.
The results of the research will be presented to the Ministry of Social
Welfare.


Social Life

More refugees are currently willing to acquire Armenian citizenship, Chief
of the Department for Refugees and Population Migration of the Social
Welfare Ministry reported. The Department is carrying out policies aimed
at integrating refugees into the local community. Since the introduction
of new Armenian passports about 2,500 refugees have acquired Armenian
citizenship. About 700 of them have acquired Armenian citizenship this
year. About 311,000 refugees are registered in Armenia, 31,400 are living
abroad (mainly in CIS countries). Currently, there are 246,000 refugees in
the country, with the majority of them residing in rural areas. A
considerably big number of refugees are residing in the Ararat (51,700),
Kotayk (32,000), Gegharkounik (30,500) and Siunik (12,000) regions. There
is a total of 50,000 refugees in Yerevan, Charentsavan, Abovian and Masis.
About 14,000 refugee families have no permanent residence. About 60,000
refugees residing in rural areas are provided with the work, while 146,000
refugees get various allowances.


Other Issues

The 54th session of the UN Human Rights Commission adopted on 3 April a
resolution devoted to the 50th anniversary of the Convention on Prevention
of Genocides and Punishment for it. The resolution was introduced for
consideration by Armenia. 40 member-states of the UN came as co-authors to
the resolution. The Convention on Prevention of Genocides was adopted by
the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1948. The given resolution initiated
in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Convention is first of all
called to attract world community's attention to the importance of that
document which does not lose its urgency today. It emphasizes the
exclusive importance of the Convention as an effective international means
to evade genocides. On 24 April Armenia commemorated 83rd anniversary of
Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. President Robert Kocharian issued
a statement on the occasion in which he stressed that the international
denial of the Genocide impeded peace in the Caucasus.



SECTORAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS

Food Security/Agriculture

According to an agreement signed with the Agrico company of the
Netherlands, 1,000 MTs of high yield potato seeds are to be imported for
distribution among the farmers who work in collaboration with the Ministry
of Agriculture (MoA). The seeds will be provided to farmers as a loan,
through the Shirakinvest bank.

The IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) programme of
agricultural services in Armenia north-western regions worth USD 15.9
million was ratified by the Armenian Parliament on 1 April. Programme
Director Gagik Matevossian reported that the programme is aimed at
repairing the irrigation system, social development of communities,
strengthening of existing cattle-breeding and seed-growing laboratories,
establishment of private cattle-breeding and seed-growing farms, and
crediting of farms. These are short-term, seasonal credits. The maximal
size of the credits will total USD 1,000 for the first year, they will be
distributed through the Agricultural Cooperative Bank at the 25 annual
interest rates. About 9,000 farms have received credits for four years of
the programme.

The Government of Japan has made two contributions worth 150 million and
300 million yens to the vulnerable population of Armenia through WFP. The
contributions will cover the outstanding requirements of WFP for 1998. WFP
will provide assistance to 220,000 targeted beneficiaries: refugees, IDPs
and vulnerable people in the earthquake zone, including orphans, disabled
people, dwellers in temporary lodgings and lonely pensioners. WFP will use
the Japanese donation through two types of distribution: take-home rations
for 140,000 beneficiaries, including a special winter food (reservation
project for women) and food for work for 80,000 participants.


Health, Nutrition and Sanitation

UMCOR together with UNHCR/CRS, ADRA, is implementing Primary Health Care
pilot programme aimed at renovating medical posts in the Masis region,
using volunteers from the refugee community and from the United States.
Within the programme, training courses are held for nurses and doctors in
primary health care, maternal and child-care, and emergency care. UMCOR
also provides basic pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

Cases of tuberculosis have continued to rise in Armenia over recent years,
WHO representative reported. Each year there are 800-1,000 new cases, with
the highest incidence observed in Yerevan, Kapan, the Ararat valley and
the lowest in Gegharkunik Marz. Low living standards and migration
processes are seen as the main causes of the spread of the disease.
Although there is a project to combat tuberculosis, there are no
sufficient resources to implement it, WHO representative said.

Through the funds received from UNHCR, ECHO and the British Government,
OXFAM is planning to implement community medical insurance project in 13
villages of Vayots Dzor marz and 10 villages in Siunik marz and
renovation, equipping and providing with medicines to two clinics and 20
medical points, undertaking first aid and primary health care professional
training and proper utilisation of medicines.

ICU (Instituto per la Cooperzione Universitaria) started the
implementation of the project on -Programme in Support of Mother and Child
Health Care in Artik, Martouni and Goris Regions- in April 1998 with the
funds received from ECHO. The main objective is to strengthen health
service networks with an emphasis on improving outreach services
especially to the most vulnerable and to further advance the
organisational, management and technical skills of staff. The programme
includes maintaining a necessary level of support to the service
(provision of materials and essential drugs) at secondary and primary care
level in the three regions. This means to cover the gap in the basic
benefit's package that cannot be currently matched by the state. The
project has also programmed to rehabilitate four key peripheral health
facilities in Goris region, as it was already done in the other two
regions. Training activities will also be carried out by the consultants
from Yerevan health centres, as well as by the health specialists from the
University of -Sacro Cuore- of Rome.

The United Armenian Funds 98th airlift arrived in Yerevan on 19 April
carrying USD 1 million of humanitarian assistance, mainly medicines and
medical supplies to be distributed to hospitals throughout Armenia by the
Health Ministry. The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly
of America, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary
Association of America, the Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America, the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church
of America and the Lincy Foundation.

As it was reported earlier, malaria is on the increase in the country. The
main causes of the spread of the disease were a reduction in drainage work
in rural districts and the seasonal increase in air temperature. A seminar
on training specialists to combat malaria was held in Tsakhadzor on 14
April, which was organised by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World
Health Organisation (WHO) and aimed at familiarizing the countries
specialists with modern methods of treating the disease. On 16 April OCHA
met with Guido Sabatinelli from WHO EURO, who visited Armenia to attend
the seminar. WHO requested OCHA to support their fund raising efforts
towards the prevention and elimination of malaria in the country.

With the contribution of the Italian National Committee for UNICEF, in
1997, UNICEF assisted in renovation of Yerevan Salt Factory and
installation of new salt iodisation line. In 1998, UNICEF continues to
support the government by providing sufficient amount of iodine to cover
the countries annual needs. UNICEF is also assisting the Government to
design new packaging for iodised salt.

In 1997 Armenia reported zero cases of poliomyelitis. To guarantee the
wild virus elimination, the MoH with the support of UNICEF is conducting
two rounds of polio vaccination (Operation MECACAR). For the vaccination
campaigns UNICEF provided 600,000 doses of polio vaccines through the
assistance of the French National Committee for UNICEF. For routine polio
immunization, UNICEF provided 200,000 doses of polio vaccines with the
USAID support. During the first round of immunization (13-18 April), about
150,000 children aged from three months to three years were vaccinated.

From 21-25 April the National Immunization Programme Manager of the MoH
and UNICEF Health Officer participated in the meeting of the joint
WHO/UNICEF Steering Committee for the CEE/CIS region for development of
new immunization training modules. The Committee reviewed new modules for
a pilot test. Armenia is among the countries included into the pilot
project.

The Armenian Finance and Economy Ministry and the US Trade and Development
Agency (USTDA) signed an agreement, under which the Agency will provide a
USD 224,000 grant to the Ministry as a technical assistance. The grant
will be spent on rendering consultations in fringes of a programme on
municipal development carried out by the World Bank, in particular, under
repairs of the water system in Yerevan. The Government is having intensive
negotiations on approval of the WBs municipal development programme
suggesting repairs of drinking water supply system in Yerevan.  The total
cost of that programme is USD 25 million. That will be the Governments
first step towards the solution of a complex programme of restoration of
drinking water supply system throughout the country, which requires
investment worth USD 200-300 million.

OXFAM will be implementing construction of 14-20 drinking water systems in
the southern regions of Armenia, and reconstruction of nine water systems
in Yeghegnadzor in non-refugee settlements using funds from ECHO.


Education, Training and Child Care

The Armenian Social Investment Fund (ASIF) operating under the World Bank
programme is currently implementing a project on construction of
educational centre -Meghvik- in Giumri. The project costs USD 150,000. The
Centre was established as a public organisation after the 1988 earthquake
gathering the most socially vulnerable children, including orphans,
disabled. Art studio is operating at the centre as well. ASIF repaired
another school in Giumri. Under the project worth USD 31,000 a new roof
was installed. Only 10 to 44 schools in Giumri have been situated in stone
buildings since the 1988 earthquake. The rest have been housed in
temporary barracks.

Under a decision issued by Prime Minister of Armenia all seven orphanages
of Armenia and one special school for retarded children were given under
jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW). According to the
reports of the Ministry, USD 1,000,000 will be given to orphanages from
Kerk Kerkorians Fund for the implementation of some ten projects. Relevant
bodies of Armenia were instructed to develop legislation regarding
adoption of orphans and ensuring their legal protection.

In 1997 UNICEF jointly with UNDP, World Bank and the Ministry of Education
initiated a school headmaster training project based on the results of a
needs assessment. In April, UNICEF education consultant, Dr. Robert
Pearson, arrived to conduct a training of core group of trainers. The
project's final stage will be a nation-wide training of about 1,400 school
headmasters.

From 7-11 April a consultant from the International Institute for Global
Education (IIGE) of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education,
University of Toronto, Canada, visited Armenia to assist the -Life Skills-
Working Group of the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) to develop a
framework for teaching life skills in grades 1-10.

UNICEF has signed an agreement with the Centre for Democracy and Human
Rights (CDHR) to conduct a survey to assess the situation of children in
the Abovian Juvenile Prison.

UNICEF is supporting a Swiss NGO, VAD, to implement a project aimed at
raising awareness of children in their right to education through
participatory training and integration of children under treatment in the
Republican Children Hospital with children of Zatik orphanage and
schoolchildren of 10 schools of Yerevans Arabkir district.


Shelter

In 1998 OXFAM plans to complete construction of 41 houses for refugees in
Masis and Ashtarak regions and renovation of 100-150 refugee houses in the
villages of Siunik marz through provision of necessary building materials
to the households. The project will be funded by UNHCR and the Government
of UK.


Development Related Activities

World Vision (WV) is currently implementing various projects in Armenia to
support small and medium-sized business development in Armenia, Credit
Programme Advisor of Anoush Khanoyan said. According to Ms. Khanoyan two
grant projects have already been implemented: the first one enveloped
production and trade sectors and cost USD 170,000, while the second
project was aimed at helping refugees set up their businesses and cost USD
100,000. WV is also implementing credit programmes allocating credits
worth USD 750-3,000 for one year at a monthly interest rate of 2.7
percent. According to regulations, persons who repaid credit within a year
may get the second one worth USD 5,000.

In 1998 OXFAM will provide grants to the local NGOs for implementation of
the projects for disabled and gender programmes. More than 150 refugee
families in Vayots Dzor and Siunik marzes will get micro-loans. It is
planned to undertake so called -fixed loans- project for 50 refugees.
Loans are provided to the small and medium enterprises if they hire
certain number of refugees for at least 1.5 year period (USD 500 lend to
each refugee). In 1998 OXFAM is planning step by step handover process of
loans' programme to the NGOs established by beneficiary groups to follow
up implementation and monitoring of the mentioned programmes.


Energy

The IAEA programme -Technical Assistance Co-ordination to Newly
Independent States- has scheduled to offer Armenia USD 700,000, USD
250,000 of which is to re-equip the Armenian State Nuclear Inspection
Agency. Under the same programme the French Government will allocate USD
60,000 to Armenia for a training programme in the field of nuclear power.
As reported by Armenians Foreign Ministry, the last meeting of country
donors and recipients of the programme reached an agreement to provide the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant with additional equipment worth USD 40,000.
The US voiced willingness to render all-around assistance in improving the
system of export control of nuclear materials. Armenia submitted, for the
donor countries consideration, a programme to devise an emergency response
system.

A conference of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Energy Ministers
took place on 15 April in Yerevan. The BSEC Energy Ministers signed a
package of documents on establishment of the BSEC United Regional Energy
System (URES). Armenian Energy Minister Gagik Martirossian opined that the
URES would then transform into a single energy market.


OTHER ISSUES

David McLachlan-Karr, Desk Officer, OCHA New York, has visited Armenia on
14-15 April to have discussions with the UN Resident Coordinator and other
UN Agencies concerning the OCHA strategy and role both at the regional and
field levels, in particular, with regard to facilitating information
exchange on humanitarian issues, promoting coordinated approach to
humanitarian assistance, identifying unmet humanitarian needs, as well as
preparing follow up to the OCHA document -Post Appeal Framework: Linking
Humanitarian Needs and Development Strategies.-

OCHA is assisting the Humanitarian Assistance Commission (HAC) in
compiling the data on unmet humanitarian needs in the country and
presenting them to the donor community. The Office is also working on
updating the Humanitarian Assistance Database which aims at the
consolidation of information related with the current humanitarian
activities of the agencies operating in the country, as well as
identifying unmet needs. The Office will be preparing briefing notes which
will be designed to indicate those sectors and geographical locations
where humanitarian assistance continues to be carried out as well as an
overview of unmet humanitarian needs.


This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int

United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs - Armenia Field
Coordination Unit Yerevan, Armenia
Ms. Knarik Karnalian
Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Tel./Fax: (003742) 151 749
E-Mail: ocha@arminco.com

Complex Emergency Response / Consolidated Appeal Process (CER/CAP) - 
Geneva
Mr. David Bassiouni - Chief
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1403
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Abu.Conteh@dha.unicc.org

Complex Emergency Division (CED) - New York
Mr. David McLachlan-Karr
Tel.: (1 212) 963.0226
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: mclachlan-karr@un.org

Information Service
Ms. Therese Gastaut - Director
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2300
Fax: (41 22) 917.0030
E-Mail: tgastaut@unog.ch


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Volunteers in Technical Assistance
Disaster Information Center                    lists: listproc@vita.org
                                                     sitreps   nat-dsr
      web: www.vita.org                              appeal    fireline
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
comments/suggestions/requests to incident@vita.org