October 1, 2023

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Humanitarian Action for Children

Armenia

HIGHLIGHTS

• Between 24 September and 4 October, more than 100,600 ethnic Armenians, including 30,000 children, fled to the Republic of Armenia following the escalation of hostilities in their region of origin
• Children have been uprooted from their homes and communities. Those with specific protection needs, including children who are unaccompanied and separated or relocated from residential care, or who are living with disabilities, require specialized support. Immediate needs include accommodation, food/nutrition support, medical care, clothing, hygiene items and mental health and psychosocial support. Affected children need to access critical health, education and protection services. Families are also in need of assistance and require urgent social protection support.
• UNICEF will support delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance, including supplies, cash, essential services and technical assistance. UNICEF will work with government and civil society partners to ensure inclusive and age- and gender-appropriate services for affected children, adolescents and their families. These services encompass health, nutrition, child protection, education (including early learning), social protection (including humanitarian cash and vouchers) and water, sanitation and hygiene support.
• UNICEF requires a total of $12.6 million ($7.1 million in 2023 and $5.5 million in 2024) to deliver urgent humanitarian support.

KEY PLANNED TARGETS

45,000 People with access to safe spaces, protection and support hubs

25,000 children accessing formal or non-formal education, including early learning

30,000 households benefitting from new or additional social assistance measures

40,000 people sharing their concerns and asking questions through established feedback mechanisms

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AND NEEDS

Between 24 September and 4 October 2023, 100,632 ethnic Armenians, including 30,000 children, fled to the Republic of Armenia following the military operation in their region of origin. Around 52 per cent are women and girls, 31 per cent are children, and 16 per cent are people with disabilities.6 Of 20 children identified as unaccompanied and separated, several have been reunited with family, while 13 who had been in residential care have been temporarily placed in crisis centres as family-type placement is sought.

Around 98,000 refugees have been officially registered to date and they are located throughout Armenia, with the highest numbers in Yerevan, followed by Syunik, Kotayk and Ararat Provinces.8 The influx of refugees has been so large that the lives of host communities, who are already overstretched, have been deeply affected in many ways. An estimated 95,000 people9 from host communities will require support

Refugee children have already experienced a difficult humanitarian situation in their region of origin. UNICEF has observed that many children appear to show signs of malnourishment. There are reports of cases of low birth weight.10 Children who fled their homes and communities have also faced trauma. Those children with specific protection needs, including unaccompanied and separated children, children in institutional care, and those with disabilities, are particularly vulnerable. Families have lost their sources of income, significantly challenging their ability to provide for their well-being, particularly in the upcoming winter. Immediate needs include accommodation, food, nutrition, medical care, clothing, hygiene items and specialized protection and mental health and psychosocial support. Refugee children require access to critical health care, education, early and catch-up learning and child protection services, while families require social protection support. The Government is making a strong effort to integrate refugees into host services and institutions; however, capacity may become stretched and may need to be augmented.

Refugees are staying within host communities, many with families, friends or in Government-provided accommodations. While generously hosting arriving populations, local communities are often themselves dependent on social assistance, exacerbating their vulnerabilities. Given the large refugee population compared with the national population (43 refugee children per 1,000 national children), service provision will likely become strained, making it imperative to ensure key services remain functional for refugee as well as host community children.

The Government of Armenia is leading the response, mobilizing national resources. It has requested complimentary humanitarian assistance from the international community UNICEF is committed to delivering support and upholding the rights and dignity of affected children and their families in line with the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action.

For more information: www.unicef.org/media/146366/file/2023-2024-HAC-Armenia.pdf