
Emergency Response & Recovery
Following the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020, we promptly established an emergency unit to help both people fleeing the conflict and host communities. Apart from providing shelter for winter, assistance includes basic food and hygiene support, utility payments, and direct cash assistance. We offer specialised psychological support and livelihood assistance and establish child-friendly spaces. All of our interventions are closely coordinated with the local authorities and other humanitarian actors to ensure aid is delivered most effectively. With our prompt and effective response to crises and our ability to mobilise resources donated by the community of supporters, partners, and our Club of Friends, we have become the lead actor in the humanitarian community in Armenia.
Ongoing ActivitiesORPast Activities

Emergency Preparedness Activity in Southern Armenia
In partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), we have launched the "Emergency Preparedness Activity in Southern Armenia" project. With our second partnership with USAID on Disaster Risk Management, we aim to strengthen disaster resilience in the vulnerable communities of Vayots Dzor and Syunik regions. By working closely with local authorities, civil society organisations (CSOs), and other local and international stakeholders, the project seeks to improve the ability of the Goris, Yeghegnadzor, and Yeghegis communities to better prepare for and respond to disasters, in line with government standards.
The project focuses on developing and implementing Disaster Risk Management (DRM) plans tailored to the specific risks of each community. It also provides local authorities and CSOs with the necessary skills and knowledge for effective emergency response, including disaster preparedness training, early warning systems (EWS), and emergency drills.
A key aspect of the project involves upgrading and expanding EWS to ensure timely alerts in case of natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Additionally, we are working to ensure that essential non-food items are available to support communities during emergencies.
Through targeted interventions, we aim to enhance community resilience in southern Armenia, improve disaster preparedness, and strengthen coordination between local and national stakeholders to ensure a more effective and timely response to emergencies.

Expansion of Child-Friendly Spaces Across Regions in Armenia
Psychosocial support includes counselling, group therapy, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) activities that support children's emotional well-being and improve their social skills. Meanwhile, the recreational programmes include various activities, such as sports, physical exercises, arts and crafts, group games, and team-building exercises. These activities provide enjoyment, encourage social interaction, and promote physical and mental well-being.
Our informal education offerings, including storytelling sessions and book clubs, foster critical thinking and communication skills, ensuring displaced children can continue learning in a supportive and engaging environment.
Parental involvement plays a vital role in the success of supporting displaced children. To foster this, we offer awareness programmes, volunteer training, and social events encouraging parents and caregivers to participate in their children's growth and development. Our child development and parenting skills workshops equip families with the tools they need to nurture their children's well-being.
Ultimately, through this support, we aim to create a lasting, positive impact on the lives of displaced children and strengthen the Armenian communities that support them.

Multisectoral emergency assistance to vulnerable conflict-affected population
People in Need, along with our consortium partners Medecins du Monde (MdM) and Mission Armenia (MA), have initiated the “Multisectoral emergency assistance to vulnerable conflict-affected population” project with funding from the European Union. We joined our efforts to assist over 23,000 individuals affected by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, including those within host communities.
To reduce the conflict’s impact on displaced and host populations, promote their well-being, and strengthen resilience, we concentrate our assistance in four key areas: health, protection, shelter & settlements, and multi-purpose cash assistance.
PIN, alongside our consortium partners, will ensure access to specialised protection services and case management for individuals at risk due to the conflict. We will also facilitate safe, winterised shelter opportunities for the most vulnerable, conflict-affected people while enabling their households to meet their urgent basic needs through multi-purpose cash assistance. In particular, People in Need will provide:
- Eco-friendly briquettes for warmth during the harsh winter months
- Utility payments
- Child-friendly spaces catering to children aged 3-15
- Multi-purpose cash assistance
We identify the families in need of our assistance with the support of local authorities.

Education in Emergencies
We at People in Need (PIN) began our first Education in Emergencies (EiE) response in 2013 in Syria and have since expanded our EiE programming to eight countries (Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, Myanmar, Georgia, Moldova, and Armenia). In 2023, we helped 94,080 conflict-affected children worldwide continue their education. Furthermore, we provided 3,088 teachers and other education personnel with financial and material support and capacity development. Additionally, we supported 8,446 parents and caregivers with parenting skills and psychosocial assistance.
We work in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on children affected by crises and living in active conflict, protracted crises, and early recovery contexts. Through our programmes, we aim to ensure that children are safe, well, and learning within a supportive environment. To provide the best possible support to the children, educators, caregivers, and communities we serve, we prioritise close and meaningful partnerships with national and local authorities, non-governmental organisations, and civil society. We strongly believe that quality programming requires active engagement with both national and global coordination mechanisms and networks.
In this context in Armenia, we began establishing Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS) in October 2020, shortly after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted. These CFSs serve both local and displaced children, enhancing their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Over the years, we have established and maintained CFSs in Goris and Martuni. These spaces are sustained and continuously improved through the generous support of donors: USAID, the European Union, UNICEF, the Start Network, and PIN's Club of Friends, in strong cooperation with local municipalities. To date, over 500 local and displaced children have been or are currently engaged in these child-friendly spaces.