Armenia - OCHA-07: 01.Jul-31.Aug.98

Situation Report from the OCHA Coordinator in ARMENIA - No. 7
July - August 1998


HIGHLIGHTS
- Armenia will participate in the international forum of TRACECA Programme
  of the EU

- The Armenian United Fund 100th humanitarian supply arrived in Armenia

- Conference on Childhood Disability was held in Yerevan

- US Ambassador stated that from 1992 to the present, the US has provided
  over USD 1 billion in assistance to Armenia. Over USD 750 million of
  that amount was in humanitarian aid.


SITUATION OVERVIEW

Economic Performance
Armenia's Prime Minister Armen Darbinian will lead the Armenian delegation
at a forum of countries-participants of TRACECA Programme of the European
Union scheduled for 7-8 September in Baku. Armenia submitted eight projects
for TRACECA programme, two of which have been approved for financing. The
Government of Armenia attaches high importance to participation in regional
programmes, which foster international economic cooperation. President
Robert Kocharian opined that the TRACECA programme would contribute to
lasting peace and stability in the Southern Caucasus. A decision on
launching TRACECA programme was adopted in May 1993 at a conference held in
Brussels with participation of the Southern Caucasian and Asian countries.
In 1996 Mongolia and Ukraine became participants of TRACECA programme.
China and Moldova also expressed willingness to participate in the
programme. The objectives of TRACECA programme are: development of major
transport corridor from Asia to Europe, integration of transport systems of
participating countries, consultative support to participating countries in
elaboration of transport-related legislative and legal documents,
development of economic relations among participating countries. 22
technical assistance and five investment projects have been sponsored in
fringes of TRACECA programme so far.

Other Issues
MCC, a Chinese state-owned mining company, intends to invest USD 400
million in the development of nonferrous metal deposits in Armenia. As
reported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, a memorandum was signed in
Yerevan related to this issue. It was also reported that the Chinese
Embassy in Armenia earlier this year had presented the Armenian Government
with a set of proposals on the development of the country's mining and
metals industry, particularly the gold, copper, molybdenum, lead and zinc
fields in central and southeastern districts, and the construction of
facilities to process them.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting a programme of
coal exploration and resource assessment in Armenia. The USD 3 million
programme is funded by USAID within its aid programme aimed at the
development of energy resources in Armenia. As reported by Programme
Manager Brenda Pierce, currently USGS is carrying out exploration and
prospecting activities in the coal deposit of Antaramut in the Lori marz.
The programme is expected to complete in 1999.
The Japanese Government granted USD 322,000 for the development of
Armenia's water supply system. The grant is meant for implementing the
second stage of the Armenia's Irrigation Rehabilitation Programme.


SECTORAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS

Food Security/Agriculture
Using funds generated by the monetisation of American agricultural
commodities (non-fat dried milk and soy oil) donated by USDA, UMCOR will
implement programmes targeting both medium-sized and micro-agricultural
businesses. These programmes will increase production, processing and
marketing of agricultural products through the provision of inputs
including credit, technical assistance and training. USD 300,000 worth of
monetisation programme proceeds will be used to purchase products, mainly
cheese from private dairy processors for free distribution to vulnerable
populations.

Health, Nutrition and Sanitation
A plane carrying the Armenian United Fund (UAF) 100th humanitarian supply
arrived in Armenia bringing an USD 8 million worth of humanitarian aid,
mainly medicine and medical equipment. The supply was donated by MAP
International, AmeriC+res, World Vision, and 30 other organisations. UAF
Executive Director Harout Sassunian said that medicine would be mainly
granted to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to be distributed to hospitals.
Health Minister Gagik Stamboltsian said that most of the supplied medicine
and medical equipment will be given to the Mammography Center. UAF's 100th
flight was accompanied by a delegation of 40 people, including
representatives of the Armenian community of the United States, American
benevolent organisations, and journalists. At Zvartnots Airport Prime
Minister, other Armenian officials, and the US Ambassador to Armenia met
the delegation.

1,200 women have been examined in the Center of Mammography since its
establishment in April 1997. The purpose of the Center is to discover
breast cancer in its initial stage by means of mammography before any lumps
or other symptoms of the disease are revealed. The UAF brought diagnostic
equipment valued at USD 200,000 for the Center. It is planned to transform
the Center into a regional medical establishment in the near future.

UMCOR sponsored a programme aimed at increasing public awareness in early
detection of breast cancer. Breast models were distributed and a total of
112 nurses were trained in all regions of Armenia. The nurses are expected
to organise breast self-examination training classes for women in their
communities.

UNICEF supported Armenian breastfeeding team members participation in the
breastfeeding policy workshop held in the UK. UNICEF also supported a
three-member intersectoral groups attendance at the recent management
course on eliminating micronutrient malnutrition, organised by Programme
Against Micronutrient Malnutrition, USA.

UNICEF and the MoH conducted an assessment of maternity and emergency
obstetrical services from 28 July-14 August to identify appropriate
strategies to improve delivery services and newborn care.

The UMCOR Primary Health Care Development project, which is managed in
tandem with a UNDP programme Integrated Support to Sustainable Human
Development, is aimed at supporting primary health care in rural
communities in four regions of Armenia. UMCOR will train nurses, doctors
and clinic administrators, initiate a lay community health care programme,
provide equipment and pharmaceuticals and establish revolving drug funds.
UMCOR together with UNDP conducted the preliminary health and construction
needs assessments in the most needy villages of Shirak and Syunik marzes.
As a result 13 villages in the two marzes were selected.

The UMCOR Health Grant Programme 1998 aims to promote and maintain healthy
communities in Armenia. The main objectives of the programme are: to
improve the health status of the population, to support capacity building
and development of local NGOs active in the health sector, health education
and promotion, primary and secondary disease prevention, pharmaceutical
supplies and equipment production, health research.

UNICEF has received a contribution from Rotary International to support a
special -mopping-up-campaign against polio.

Manvel Manrikian, the chief sanitary inspector reported that the poor state
of the water supply system and low quality of imported food contribute to
the spread of infectious diseases in the country. Substantial resources are
required for a thorough repair of the country's water supply system. The
World Bank has already extended a USD 30 million credit to Armenia to
reconstruct the Yerevan water supply system. Mr. Manrikian said a recent
inquiry by the sanitary service has found that nearly 10 percent of the
food imported into Armenia is dangerous for health.

Education, Training and Child Care
The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), a Washington-based
international non-profit organisation that manages exchange and
professional training programmes in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia,
has been awarded a grant from the United States Information Agency to
administer a two-year teacher training programme (USD 300,000) in Armenia.
The 1998 Elementary-Level Teacher Education in Armenia Programme will focus
on updating the curriculum and fine-tuning training for in-service and
pre-service elementary-level teachers. Approximately 24,000 students are
currently enrolled in elementary to middle school programmes. IREX will
gather eighteen representatives of Armenia's elementary schools and
pedagogical institutes, together with Armenian Ministry of Education
officials and US experts on elementary education, to assess the needs for
pre-service and in-service teacher training at the elementary level. A
nationwide recruitment campaign will identify and select six Armenian
educators for three months of intensive training at a US university on
instructional methods, curriculum design, classroom management, and student
assessment. This group will receive technical assistance in library
research techniques, computer usage and the Internet, and will visit US
elementary schools. Following the US workshop, they will return to Armenia
and test the manual in in-service and pre-service training programmes at
eighteen selected pilot-test schools. The resulting manual and training
programme will serve as the basis for a new elementary-level teaching
curriculum throughout Armenia.

The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) initiated a new project, which is aimed
at establishing computer classes in five orphanages (-Zatik- in Yerevan,
orphanages in Vanadzor, Gavar, Noubarashen and Kharberd) in Armenia. 805
children at the age of 5-18 will benefit from the project. The computer
classes will give the children an opportunity to study and develop
operators and programmers skills. Necessary equipment will be installed in
the orphanages. The organisation is looking for a contribution to the
project. The total cost makes USD 13,440.

UNICEF and UNDP sponsored four pilot workshops to finalise training
materials for the school headmaster-training programme planned by the
Ministry of Education and Science (MoES).

The UNICEF-supported assessment by the Centre for Democracy and Human
Rights (CDHR) of the situation of children in Abovian Prison and detention
Centre is finished. The report summarises the situation of children in
three subgroups: children in pre-trial detention, children who have been
sentenced and children living with their imprisoned parents.

The Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW) has formed a working group to prepare
an assessment of the current state of adoption, foster care and
guardianship systems in the country and to draft new legislation. UNICEF
sponsored the visit of International Social Service experts who were
invited to review draft legislation and to advise the Ministry and the
Parliament Committee on Social Issues on international experience and
standards. The members of the mission, Robert Vitillo, Director of
Programmes, International Social Service, Geneva, and William Duncan, Hague
Conference on Private International Law, met with representatives of UNHCR,
OCHA, OXFAM, UMCOR and MSF/France on 17 August at the UN House. The
delegation briefed on the meetings they have had with Armenian officials.
They informed that a new draft Family Code is to be prepared, and a law on
adoption will be a part of it. Several issues, including the current
practice of adoption, responsible bodies for the issue, social reasons for
institutionalisation of children, public awareness and other related
matters were touched upon at the meeting. There was a consensus that
majority of children (some 90-95 percent) living in special institutions
are from socially vulnerable families. Parents send their children to the
institutions because they cannot afford to take care for them. Thus, it is
required to support those vulnerable families so that children could be
returned to their families. This issue is currently on the agenda of
international agencies working in the area. As an example was given the
World Bank project Child Initiative, which is aimed at ensuring economic
and social welfare of those families whose children are in the
institutions.


UNICEF was a co-sponsor of the -Young Leaders School- course for school-age
children, which was held on 29 July-19 August and organised by the Women's
Council. At the course opening UNICEF representative made a presentation on
UNICEF activities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Over 70
children attended the training. Further they will organise various
community-based activities.

UNICEF is sponsoring a series of actions organised by All-Armenian Women's
Union within the framework of the global initiative -Future Vessel- (a
summit of children and youth to promote and practice the Rights of the
Child and Agenda 21). The actions will involve organising a summit of
children in Yerevan and a direct Internet link with the global event.

In May, UMCOR began implementation of the Health Support for Armenian
Children programme. 24 health educators were selected to spend the summer
in camps with children. They participated in a ten-day training at Mughni
Health Centre. 23 summer camps throughout the country applied for UMCOR
support. In total, 8,600 children attending the summer camps in 1998 are
served by UMCOR.

A Conference on Childhood Disability was held on 17-20 August in Yerevan.
The conference is organized and sponsored by Ministry of Health (MoH), UN,
Children of Armenia Reaching Peaks (CARP) and United Armenian Fund (UAF).
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Katica Cekalovic,
UNICEF Resident Project Officer JoAnna Van Gerpen and WHO Liaison Officer
Hrair Aslanian welcomed the participants on behalf of the UN Armenia
Office. Among the participants were representatives from the Ministries of
Health, Education and Science, Social Welfare, Transportation, UN Special
Rapporteur of the Commission for Social Development on Disability Bengt
Lindqvist, Social Affairs Officer from the UN Division for Social Policy
and Development Akiko Ikeda, Medical Director of Institute for Community
Inclusion of Harvard University Allen C. Crocker, Medical Director of
Marcus Center at Emory University Leslie Rubin, Armenian and international
distinguished physicians and pediatricians, NGOs dealing with disability
issues. The main goal of the conference was to raise public awareness
related to the childhood disability issue in the country and to bring to
the Ministries attention the crucial importance of coordination of
activities in the field. The conference adopted a resolution addressed to
the authorities and national and international organisations. The
resolution was handed to Prime Minister Armen Darbinian by a special
delegation. Mr. Lindqvist suggested that UN could assist in the
establishment of mechanisms of cooperation between various Ministries and
non-governmental organisations. Evaluating the experience of the United
Nations in this field, Mr. Darbinian emphasised that the society should
overcome the psychological barrier and change the mentality and approach
towards persons with disabilities.

UNICEF is sponsoring participation of a local NGO, Humanitarian Support
Centre -Nor Hayastan,- in a study tour to Romania to study activities in
Romania addressing the problems of children working and living in the
streets. The visit is hosted by the Save the Children-Romania.

On 28 August the US Embassy and UNICEF announced the successful completion
of a project to supply Braille textbooks to the Yerevan school for the
blind. Within the project, the school has been provided five copies of 17
textbooks, enough to meet the most urgent needs of the blind children
attending the school. The project was made possible through a special
concert organised by the US Embassy to raise funds for the school and a
contribution from the French National Committee for UNICEF.

As reported by Victoria Gevorgian from the UK Embassy in Armenia, one of
the main trends of humanitarian aid of the Embassy is assistance to both
disabled children and children in penitentiaries. A number of programmes
aimed at assisting the PYUNIC Society for Disabled, were completed
recently. The organisation was provided with sports stock worth USD 4,500.
Assistance was also rendered to orphanages for disabled children in
Nubarashen and Kanaker. The British Embassy is also sponsoring the repair
works of the children colony in Abovian. The Embassy plans to assist in the
implementation of the -Help to Begging Children- programme being
implemented by MSF/France.

Shelter
American businessman John Huntsman visited Armenia in July. Mr. Huntsman
founded a construction company -Hunstman and Armenia- after the 1988
earthquake. At the meeting with President Robert Kocharian, Mr. Huntsman
announced his intentions of expanding the work of the company and also to
set up a plant producing polyethylene pipes. The businessman also expressed
willingness to assist in the reconstruction of the earthquake zone. He has
plans to launch housing construction for socially vulnerable people in
cooperation with residents themselves.

-We will be able to finally resolve the reconstruction of houses in the
earthquake zone by the year 2001,- President Robert Kocharian stated after
his recent visit to the earthquake zone. The President stressed that aside
from the budget amounts allocated for construction works, there were other
sources of funds, including a USD 15 million allocation by Kirk Kerkorian,
as well as projects and allocations made by other countries. Mr. Kocharian
stated that last year the earthquake zone reconstruction project was
reviewed. He also added that only through budget allocation 27 buildings
were under construction in the centre of Gumri. Mr. Kocharian concluded
that in the next one or two months the entire earthquake zone
reconstruction programme would be reviewed and new guidelines would be
drafted for the implementation of those programmes.

The Armenian Government, American Red Cross and Armenian Society of the Red
Cross signed an agreement on the implementation of construction and other
charity programmes in the earthquake zone. The Government approved the
American Red Cross Programme on the construction of residential buildings
in the earthquake. The Lincy Fund allocated USD 5 million to the American
Red Cross for the programme. The American Red Cross will make all
preparations for competitions among construction organisations as well as
decide which families will receive the flats. The Armenian Government will
finance the construction of external facilities of the buildings.

The programme is expected to be completed in August-December 1999.

OTHER ISSUES
A launching ceremony of the UNDP National Human Development Report, 1997
took place on 12 August at the UN House. It is the third report in the
series of Human Development Reports of Armenia. It is devoted to problems
of social cohesion. The Report was prepared by a team of independent
Armenian scholars and experts under the auspices of UNDP. The Report
elaborates on the issue of social cohesion in the context of sustainable
human development, encompassing economic, political, social and cultural
developments in the country. The transition period and social cohesion, the
role of the State in the next phase of reforms, market economy and the
dynamics of social deprivation, prospects of equality and social cohesion,
legitimization of state governance, the role of the Armenian Diaspora in
the formation of social cohesion   these are the main analyses in the
Report. Opening remarks were delivered by Ms. Katica Cekalovic, UN Resident
Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative, and Mr. Armen Darbinian, Prime
Minister of Armenia. They particularly stressed the importance of
enhancement of social cohesion in Armenia as the country is in the
transition period and polarisation in the society is increasing.

Caucasus Regional Workshop on Local Capacities for Peace Project (LCPP) was
organised on 9-12 June in Georgia, which was cosponsored by UNHCR, OCHA,
Save the Children (US) and OXFAM (UK). The LCPP is a collaborative effort
of a number of UN Agencies, international and national NGOs and donors. In
1997 the LCPP conducted a series of -roundtables- with aid agencies in
Yerevan, Tbilisi and Baku. The project examines how assistance can be
provided to avoid increasing of conflict tension. The workshop aimed to
assist participants to find programming options that decrease tensions in
the community and to identify and strengthen connectors between the
communities in conflict, thereby enhancing local capacities for peace.

Recently the LCPP has joined with the Humanitarianism and War Project (H
and W) Brown University, USA, to produce Humanitarian Action in the
Caucasus: A Guide for Practitioners. A number of activities are planned,
including strategy sessions with operational actors in the Caucasus in
September. A regional symposium on Conflict, Politics and Humanitarian
Action will be convened on 7 October 1998 in Tbilisi to discuss negative
and positive interaction of humanitarian assistance with political agendas
and conflict. The symposium will be sponsored by the Swedish International
Development Agency (SIDA), the US BPRM, and OCHA.

On 31 July a Youth Forum was convened at the UN House. Since Youth NGOs of
Armenia were unable to participate in the Third International Youth Forum
in Braga (2-6 August 1998), a similar convention with almost the same
agenda and title was convened in Yerevan. Twelve youth organisations
participated in the Forum and discussed the following issues: youth
participation in peace building, education, health (AIDS and drug abuse),
employment and migration, and gender equality. A working group was formed
and prepared a message addressed to the Forum in Braga, Armenian Ministry
of Culture, Youth and Sports, UN Agencies and to media.

On 15-16 July the first Humanitarian Segment of the Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) was held at the UN Secretariat in New York, addressing the
theme of -Strengthening of the Coordination of Emergency Humanitarian
Assistance of the United Nations.- Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello,
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, introduced the report of
the Secretary-General entitled -Strengthening of the Coordination of
Humanitarian Assistance of the United Nations.- Coordination, humanitarian
principles, resource mobilisation, natural disasters, relief and
development, peacekeeping/peace-building those were some of the important
issues discussed at the two-day Segment.

The US Ambassador Peter Tomsen summarised his three years in Armenia at a
press conference held on 20 August, at the Yerevan Press Club. As reported
by the Embassy, the Ambassador stated that from 1992 to the present, the US
has provided over USD 1 billion in assistance to Armenia. Over USD 750
million of that amount was in humanitarian aid. As Armenia economy has
improved, the US has been able to increase the proportion of development
and business assistance and reduce that of relief supplies. However, US
humanitarian assistance continues for the poorest areas and neediest
people, for example, winter kerosene distribution to the people living in
containers in the earthquake zone, the Ambassador pointed out. Development
assistance now receives the bulk of the money. It has gone from 7 percent
in fiscal year 1992 to 57 percent in 1998. Aid to business and the private
sector has also increased from zero in 1992 to 14 percent in 1998.

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 Kamalian
Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Tel./Fax: (003742) 151 749
E-Mail: ocha@arminco.com or unocha@freenet.am

Complex Emergency Response / Consolidated Appeal Process (CER/CAP) - Geneva
Mr. Ernest Chipman - Chief
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1402
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Annette.Choquet@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



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