Armenia - OCHA-09: 01-31.Oct.98
Armenia - OCHA-09: 01-31.Oct.98
Situation Report from the OCHA Coordinator in ARMENIA - No. 9
October 1998
HIGHLIGHTS
- The World Food Day was Commemorated in Armenia
- October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Armenia
- UN Armenia Commemorated the UN Day on 24 October
- OCHA Geneva Mission to Armenia: Need for Development of a Strategy to
Assist Countries in Transition
- You Can Help Them: SOS From Beyond the Limits of Reason - a Charity
Event in support of Vardenis Centre for Mentally Retarded People
SECTORAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS
Food Security/Agriculture
UN Armenia commemorated the World Food Day/TeleFood on 16 October in
Spitak. This year's theme -Women Feed the World- was chosen by the UN
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to highlight women's decisive role
in household and national food security. In the framework of World Food
Day, in October 1997 FAO launched -TeleFood-, a televised appeal for
global solidarity and support in eradicating hunger. Currently 159
TeleFood projects are providing tools, seeds or other essential supplies
for food security activities in developing countries. The projects
undertaken by various UN Agencies in Armenia show that the UN is investing
in the field of food security and enhancing local capacities for food as
one of the major objectives worldwide.=20
UNHCR and WFP discussed the mechanisms of food distribution to refugees
with representatives of ten marzes and the Ministry of Social Welfare
(MoSW). WFP will provide food to 16,000 refugees who have not benefited
from the Government Vulnerability Index (PAROS).
The German Technical Cooperation Organisation (GTZ) is implementing an
integrated food programme (IESP) in the Sissian region. The programme was
launched in March 1996 and is funded by the German Government. IESP major
objective is to provide food to the needy people, create necessary
conditions for development of production in the Sissian region. Under the
programme, loans are allocated for development of small and medium-sized
business in agricultural sector and rehabilitation of urban and rural
infrastructure. GTZ also provides technical assistance to the local
administration. Preparations for the second phase of IESP programme are
currently being held. The second phase will also include health care and
education components.=20
HEALTH, NUTRITION AND SANITATION
-Nork-Marash- Cardio Centre worked out a programme of assistance to
children from the CIS countries suffering from congenital heart disease.
Under the programme, the Centre will perform 12 operations and conduct a
comprehensive examination of 100 children annually. The programme is being
implemented in collaboration with International Children's Fund. Director
of the Centre reported that such programme is of paramount importance as
cardio centres in CIS have limited capacities in performing operations on
heart.=20
The Armenian American Mammography Centre of Armenia with its parent
organisation, the Women's Health Care Association, has designated October
as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Armenia. The main objective of this
action is to create awareness and to educate the public about the
importance of early detection of breast cancer through monthly self-
examinations, annual clinical visits and mammography to save and prolong
the lives of women. The programme included a concert, a scientific
conference, and a health walk.=20
UNHCR hosted the monthly inter-agency meeting on Reproductive Health.
Participants were briefed on the UNHCR/UNICEF Emergency Obstetric Care
Programme. The programme has two components: training of health providers
of maternity care on medical protocols in accordance to WHO standards, and
providing essential drugs to remote health posts.=20
UNICEF supplied polio vaccines for a mopping-up campaign by the Ministry
of Health (MoH). The special campaign reached over 90 percent of children
aged from three months to three years as part of the polio eradication
programme in the country.=20
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND CHILD CARE
For the past 10 years the Orphan/Child Care Fund of the Armenian
Missionary Association of America (AMAA) has played a vital role in caring
for the orphaned and needy children in Armenia. Annually 1600 children and
their families are under the direct care of AMAA's Orphan/Child Care Fund
through its Child Sponsorship Programme. USD 240.00 supports one child
and its family for a period of one year. The Fund provides direct help
also to schools, orphanages, day care centres, clinics and hospitals. The
Fourth Annual Luncheon/Children's Fashion Show was held on 7 October in
Boston, which raised USD 30,000 in support of the needy children.=20
UNHCR and the Department of Refugees and Migration of the MoSW identified
2,000 refugee children who had difficulties in buying school materials and
joining primary education. UNHCR provided funds for basic supplies for
those children, which enabled them to attend school.=20
UNICEF is supporting a national NGO, Bridge of Hope, to raise public
awareness in child disability issues by providing training on the rights
of people with disabilities and counseling to the parents of disabled
children living in Stepanavan and Vanadzor. The NGO's theatre of disabled
children will give performances in those towns.=20
On 21-22 October a conference on -The Role of NGOs in Child Disability
Issues- was organised by a national NGO, Astghik and sponsored by UNICEF.
Participants included national NGOs, parents of disabled children as well
as French experts working in child disability area. -Astghik- unites 2,000
families with disabled children. The main objective of the organisation is
to help the disabled children to become full-fledged members of the
society.=20
UNICEF completed a project with the Yerevan School of the Blind to
operationalise a duplicating machine for Braille materials. Paper, spare
parts as well as training in operating and maintaining the machine were
provided to the school. The project was supported by the French National
Committee for UNICEF.=20
In August-October UNICEF supported a national NGO, All Armenian Women s
Union to organise a series of activities to raise awareness of Armenian
youth in two UN documents - Agenda 21 and the Convention on the Rights of
the Child, and to promote children's participation in community life.
Seminars were organised in Yerevan and three regions of the country to
discuss the young people's priorities for the 21st century. These ideas
were summarised in Yerevan at a conference on 23-24 October. 100 youth
launched their version of the -Future Vessel-, a symbol of their
aspirations. The global -Future Vessel- activities were held in
Stockholm, Sweden, on 21-24 October with 6,000 youth representing more
than 50 countries. UNICEF, The Embassy of France in Armenia and the
Armenian Relief Society sponsored participation of three young people from
Armenia. The French Embassy facilitated access to Internet for a group of
participants to the Yerevan conference who connected directly with Sweden.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia received another group of young
people in the UN House.=20
SHELTER
UNHCR continues the implementation of its Shelter project. The
construction of unfinished houses in the cities of Artik, Martuni,
Chambarak and Goris is on its last stage of completion. Another 55 houses
are to be constructed for refugees living in Stepanavan. The repairs and
rehabilitation of individual refugee houses in Yerevan area and some
communal centres are also in progress. Some 200-refugee families who are
currently living in substandard shelter and containers will benefit from
the shelter project.=20
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INCOME SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
The goal of the UMCOR Sustainable Guaranteed Agricultural Assistance for
Women programme (AREGAK) is to raise the living standards of women and
their families by providing financial services to the poor rural
population in Armenia. By December 2001 a fiscally and managerially
sustainable organisation capable of delivering financial services over an
extended period will be established, encompassing five service centres in
Armenia. The programme was started in Yeghegnadzor region, where access to
credit and savings facilities are now available in nine towns and
villages. To date, a total of 410 groups of five women have been
registered (2050 members) in the 8 villages and Yeghegnadzor town. UMCOR
has completed a survey in Masis region, which revealed a demand to
establish an AREGAK Service Centre in the region, where agriculture is the
principal activity and source of livelihood. The AREGAK staff is currently
analysing results of a survey conducted in the area of Goris, Sunik marz,
which is under consideration for another Service Centre.=20
DEVELOPMENT RELATED ACTIVITIES
The monthly inter-agency meeting on micro-credit issues was held at UMCOR
office. The agencies are working on methodologies of advocating for
improved legal regulations for micro-credit. A form for survey on legal
and regulatory obstacles has been developed. The results of the survey
will be presented to the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE).=20
MIGRATION
IOM continues the implementation of its Capacity Building in Migration
Management Project. Much of the initial work on providing the framework
for migration management in the country has been completed. The next steps
involved broad-based discussions of the migration management components,
including a policy document, draft legislation on exit from and entry to
Armenia, a draft law on labor migration, an approach to border management,
a survey on IDP, as well as finalizing the information in a format to be
presented to the Government.=20
Within the ION Microenterprise Development Project a total of 522 people
have completed training courses. Loans have been provided for production,
trade and service activities. More than USD 300,000 has been provided in
loans, and more will be provided upon the repayment of the first loans. A
repayment of 91 percent of loans has been achieved. A directory of
services provided by the loan recipients has been produced and circulated
amongst the clients.=20
OTHER ISSUES
UN Armenia commemorated the UN Day on 24 October. The year of 1998 is the
50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. A dramatic
performance on -Human Rights-From Time Immemorial Up to the Present Date-
and a puppet show performance -David of Sassoun- dedicated to the UN Day
took place at the Puppet Theatre.=20
OCHA Geneva mission visited Armenia on 23-26 October. The objective of the
mission was to familiarise with the current situation in the country, to
discuss with the Government, humanitarian and development community the
issues related to coordination of outstanding humanitarian programmes,
resource mobilisation for residual humanitarian needs, as well as linkage
between humanitarian and development activities in the country. During the
various meetings it was stated that living conditions of those people who
are classified as most vulnerable, such as elderly, disabled, refugees and
other population groups of concern have not improved and in some cases
have deteriorated due to the macro-economic reform programmes undertaken
in the country. In such a situation a comprehensive strategy that
encompasses both humanitarian and development response should be
developed, which would support the residual humanitarian needs while
ensuring the establishment of an effective social safety net.=20
On 13 October OCHA met the Attach=E9 for Humanitarian Affairs of the Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation (SADC). OCHA provided information
on current humanitarian situation in the country and the sectors where
assistance is required. The SADC is planning to initiate
development-related programmes in Armenia. However, considering the
remaining residual humanitarian needs in the country, the Agency will
continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the country.=20
On 30 October the UN Resident Coordinator and OCHA met the ECHO Desk
Officer for the Southern Caucasus and the ECHO Regional Coordinator. The
objective of the mission was to become acquainted with ongoing
humanitarian programmes in Armenia, to prepare the outline for the ECHO
1999 Global Plan for the Southern Caucasus. OCHA briefed on the current
humanitarian situation in the country emphasising the continued need for
the provision of humanitarian assistance for certain population groups,
which do not benefit from the economic structural reform programmes. UNRC
noted that humanitarian programmes should be formulated within a
development context, thus ensuring the links between humanitarian needs
and development strategies. ECHO stated that the programmes implemented
by several organisations in Armenia with the ECHO funds (1.2 million ECU)
are not of purely humanitarian nature. The lack of cooperation and
coordination between humanitarian and development players was stated as a
major concern in the countries undergoing transition.=20
A socialising gathering was organised by a national NGO Mission Armenia on
1 October to honor its single elderly beneficiaries and to once again
focus the attention of the Government, National Assembly and public at
large on the urgent need to seek solutions to the problems of single
elderly. The event was the first in the series of actions planned by the
organisation in support of single elderly within the framework of
International Year for Elderly declared by the United Nations for 1999.
For more than six years, Mission Armenia has been providing home care and
nursing services to hundreds of single and helpless elderly one of the
most vulnerable and affected amongst the population. The objectives of the
Mission Armenia s Elderly Home Care programme are to improve health state
of the beneficiaries maximum reducing their physical dependency on outside
aid, restore social identity of the single elderly, abandoned and
neglected by the society through creating a family setting for them. UNHCR
currently supports Mission Armenia to restructure its programme. The
social workers of the organisation are being trained to create
community-based care in three communal centres in Yerevan. The social and
economic crisis and financial difficulties in the country impact
considerably on the special institutions. Vardenis Centre (psychiatric
hospital and old age home for mentally retarded people) is among those
institutions. An initiative group of journalists called for action to
support patients living at the Centre. A charity event entitled -You Can
Help Them: SOS From Beyond the Limits of Reason- took place on 30 October
at Hai-Art Cultural Centre. Dollies made by a patient, as well as pictures
taken at the Centre were exhibited. A video film about the Centre was
screened as well. Mission Armenia will administer the support funds.=20
ON 20 October Armenian and US officials worked out details of the winter
warmth programme. Under the agreement signed between the Armenian
Government and USAID, some 1,200 schools and those poor families that live
in containers in the earthquake zone will be provided with 7,500 MTs of
kerosene worth USD 3 million during the winter months.=20
On October 30 the United States Ambassador to Armenia Michael Lemmon
informed at a news conference that in the coming fiscal year the United
States Government will earmark USD 79.8 million to Armenia against USD
87.5 million earmarked last year. Together with the assistance provided by
other governmental bodies, the overall US assistance to Armenia in FY'99
will total about USD 135 million. According to the Ambassador, 1998 has
become a turning year since for the first time most of the US assistance
has been provided through development programmes. At present humanitarian
assistance makes up 29 percent of all earmarked funds. The prospects of
future cooperation initiatives in the Southern Caucasus were addressed at
a regional conference organised by Eurasia Foundation on 14-18 October in
Likani, Georgia. The conference was attended by about 170 grant-recipients
of the Eurasia Foundation from Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.=20
Currently, organisations in the South Caucasus face similar challenges and
opportunities, but lack resources and opportunities to develop joint
projects. Participants in the conference tabled a package of proposals on
joint resolution of a number of common problems. The following major
problems were pointed out: lack of information, research and analysis on
business development in the region, inefficiency of legislation in the
Southern Caucasus countries, lack of regional systems ensuring constant
information exchange among the Southern Caucasus countries. The
participants of the conference stressed the necessity of creating a single
information space in the Southern Caucasus as a main condition for
development of the entire region.=20
On 4-16 October a regional workshop of the UNDP Disaster Management
Training Programme (DMTP) was held in Balatonfoldvar, Hungary.
Participants were the representatives from the Governments and NGO
community of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, UN Agencies, and independent
experts on disaster management. Drafts of national capacity building
project for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia as well as a regional project
were elaborated by the national counterparts. This approach in
elaborating project documents by involving national counterparts is
experienced for the first time in DMTP. The workshop highlighted the
commitment of the Governments of the three countries to contribute to the
implementation of their respective projects by using their research
capabilities as well as their available disaster-management networks.=20
UNHCR organised a seminar on Media and Naturalisation of Refugees on 9-10
October. Representatives of local media, the MoSW and UNHCR discussed and
exchanged views on the issues related to refugees in Armenia, possible
solutions and problems affecting the local integration of refugees and
activities for promotion of naturalisation.=20
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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