Emergency Response & Recovery

In order to urgently respond to the needs of people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, the European Union provided 50 tonnes of humanitarian aid to its partner People in Need for joint distribution with the Armenian government. 

This humanitarian aid included 5,000 blankets, 3,000 kitchen sets, and 3,000 hygiene kits. The Unified Social Service cooperates with the municipalities to provide a list of families referred to us to receive support.

With a large-scale displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia unfolding, the main goal of the project funded by Stichting Vluchteling (SV) is to help the most vulnerable people affected by the recent conflict.

Through the SV funds, PIN ensures that the displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh stay in safe, accessible, dignified emergency shelters. As part of the project, PIN is upgrading collective shelters hosting the affected people providing repair kits, equipment, briquettes, and stoves. The project supports approximately 240 families in the Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Kotayk, Ararat, and Armavir provinces of Armenia.

The most vulnerable households are selected in close collaboration with the local authorities who refer collective and individual shelters to PIN.
 

Supported by funds from the European Union delegation in Armenia, we are addressing the immediate needs of the population displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 

We provide hygiene kits to approximately 1,000 displaced families in the Syunik region. This support benefitted around 3,000 people, including families with children and elderly individuals. 

The families in need of our assistance have been referred to us by the Syunik local authorities.

We support more than 19,000 displaced individuals with assistance from EU Humanitarian aid, in collaboration with the WINNET Goris Development Foundation, aimed at helping families displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

People in Need provides vouchers worth 40,000 AMD to people in the urban areas of the Vayots Dzor and Syunik regions. This allows displaced individuals to purchase essential food and hygiene supplies from local shops in their communities. Meanwhile, those living in rural areas receive food and hygiene kits.

The WINNET Goris Development Foundation, our project partner, conducts various activities catering to displaced women and children.

This aid is accessible to displaced people residing in the Syunik and Vayots Dzor regions. The families in need of our assistance are referred to us by the local authorities.

In the extended community of Goris, Syunik Province, People in Need, with the support of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), is implementing an emergency preparedness project to reduce the risk of man-made and natural disasters and to make the community resilient and secure.

The project envisages a series of complex measures coordinated with national and local governmental bodies and other relevant stakeholders active in the field of emergency preparedness. An integral component of the project is the renovation of shelters that will also be equipped with basic supplies. Coordination systems between the key institutions will be developed, and appropriate procedures for approaching emergency situations will be advanced and finetuned. At the same time, with the direct participation of the Goris municipality, community groups will be created with the involvement of the state, civil society representatives, and volunteers to respond effectively during emergencies.

A series of relevant capacity-building training is to be conducted for members of community groups. In the framework of this project, public awareness campaigns and emergency drills will be organised. 

People who moved to Armenia due to the war are facing many problems. They are excluded from the labour market; thus, they cannot ensure the well-being and basic needs of their families. Particularly, this is highlighted in the issues related to rental support, health care, unemployment, and also in vocational training courses and language assistance.
To react to the all aforementioned needs respectively and contribute to the integration of displaced families and help them recognize homeland and heritage, People in Need has initiated the ‘PINcubator: Programme for Integration of Armenian Nationals’ project.
The project has the following components:

• Social assistance, which includes compensation for rent and/or utility bills, provision of basic necessities, i.e. furniture, equipment, clothes and hygiene kits. Within this component, displaced families will also receive free psychological and legal support.
• On-the-job training provision, including the Armenian language courses. Foreign language courses can also be provided out of necessity.
• PINcubator: business incubation programme which includes business classes, small business grants, mentoring and business coaching.

This reintegration project is implemented thanks to the People in Need funds together with its local partner Mission Armenia and in cooperation with Department of Diaspora of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of RA, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, State Migration Service of Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, as well as with local and international organizations.
 

Since November 2020, seven Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) have opened in the town of Goris and the villages of Shurnukh, Verishen, Qarahunj, Vorotan, and Khndzoresk. These facilities, funded by the United States Agency for International Development and established by People in Need in conjunction with the Goris Municipality, provide services to 450 displaced and local children and their parents and aim to enhance the children’s cognitive, emotional, and social development․ Since September 2021 CFSs run with the support of EU humanitarian aid. 

The CFS provides a number of services and benefits for the communities they serve. Psychological services, including individual counseling sessions, are available for children and their parents. Children can also gain valuable skills through a variety of trainings, events, and community initiatives, while parents have the opportunity to participate in sessions on positive discipline. Capacity-building sessions are held for CFS specialists to keep the activities of the facilities up-to-date, and to enhance the skills of the providers.

People in Need, together with our consortium partners Action Against Hunger, Médecins du Monde, Mission Armenia, and the WINNET Goris Development Foundation initiated the 'Prompt Response to the Displacement of People from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia' short-term humanitarian project with funding from the Start Network. This initiative addresses the most urgent needs of the population displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh following the events of September 2023. To provide a comprehensive range of humanitarian assistance to the affected population, the project includes several components that respond to the actual needs of over 8,000 displaced people. 

A significant component of the project involves the distribution of multi-purpose vouchers to households in the Syunik and Vayots Dzor regions. PIN is also distributing hot, ready-to-eat meals to individuals, which will be organized through local restaurants, canteens, and small entrepreneurs. 

Action Against Hunger is providing multi-purpose vouchers to households in the Ararat and Kotayk regions 

MDM contributes to the operations of the Goris reception centre by purchasing essential hardware equipment, as well as supporting rental and utility expenses. 

To address the critical needs related to mental health and document-related issues, Mission Armenia is providing primary psychosocial support and basic legal assistance.  

WINNET Goris facilitates engagement activities, with a specific focus on women and children in Goris. 

In order to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the Lachin corridor blockade—which has been ongoing since December 12, 2022 - People in Need, Mission Armenia, Armenian Caritas, and the WINNET Armenia network of women's resource centers have formed a consortium to support about 10,000 people affected by the blockade․

With Start Network funding, PIN and our fellow consortium members are helping vulnerable people through local CSOs. We are providing a variety of supports such as winter clothes, food, psycho-social support, and youth and women engagement activities through craft skills, etc. 

The selection of beneficiaries and the implementation of works are organised in cooperation with the consortium members and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Syunik Marzpetaran, Goris Municipality, and the Nagorno-Karabakh representative office in Armenia. 
 

The project aims to provide immediate support to the vulnerable population in Armenia; while focusing on displaced people, hosting families, and vulnerable individuals who stayed in their villages during the conflict. As a result of a new wave of attacks on the sovereign territory of Armenia in September 2022, 7,600 individuals have been displaced from the regions of Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik.

The project aims to cover the needs of the vulnerable conflict-affected and host populations in Armenia through utility payment.

This 6-month emergency response will reach 4,225 unique individuals and will be implemented by a consortium of PIN and ACTED. The project will be closely coordinated with relevant authorities and emergency actors to avoid duplications and complement other ongoing responses. Read more here.

Thanks to the funds from the START Network, under the "Emergency Response for Internal Displaced Populations in Armenia" project, People in Need (PIN) helped people in the Syunik region affected by the Azerbaijan aggression on September 13-14, 2022. The conflict has caused displacement and severe trauma. Vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and women are particularly at risk in a context where state support is limited and access to critical services is poor.

The project was led by ACTED in consortium with PIN and Mission Armenia and specialising in the Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, and Syunik regions of Armenia.

PIN provided hygiene and baby kits, as well as first aid kits to families and health facilities in the Syunik region. We were providing hygiene kits to 300 families and baby kits to 100 mothers, first aid kits to 300 beneficiaries who are able to provide first aid care, and medical kits for 10 health facilities.

The project partners ACTED and Mission Armenia provided multi-purpose vouchers and psycho-support services, respectively. 
 

Years later after the escalation of violence in Nagorno Karabakh, the issue of displaced persons settled within Armenia remains high on the agenda.

The Displaced Family Support project, implemented with the kind support of the US Agency for International Development, aims to improve the quality of life of displaced families living in Metsamor city, Armavir region by providing them with job opportunities. Displaced and vulnerable people throughout Metsamor's amalgamated community had an opportunity to develop their capacities. These families were encouraged to engage in viable microenterprises to increase and diversify their sources of income through the initiation of new activities. The project also facilitates social cohesion between displaced families and the host community.

Selected beneficiaries among the displaced families and host community attended training on baking technology, specialty, and alternative baking, pastry arts, food service management, financial literacy, and business management. The most successful and motivated participants were selected for employment in the newly created Mets & More Bakery, which was established within the project, or received livelihood kits to support their income generation abilities.

To mention, Mets & More is more than a bakery. It has been established in pursuit of social cohesion between displaced families and their host community; it creates job opportunities for the displaced and vulnerable families. Part of the proceeds from the bakery, in collaboration with Metsamor city municipality, will ensure the community's implementation of the development programs.

To foster proper assimilation and social integration of displaced families within the host community, PIN in collaboration with Metsamor city municipality established an additional childcare unit within the existing kindergarten. Further, 17 families living in the shelter were provided with new doors and windows in order to ease their daily worries and ensure thermal insulation.



Read more here. 

 

 

Relief and Early Recovery for People Affected by Conflict in Armenia, the REACT project, is working to meet the needs of over 17,000 displaced people in the most turbulent regions of the country. Through this project, People in Need (PIN) aims to provide continuous relief aid to those most vulnerable and respond to mounting early recovery needs in Armenia.

PIN is working to support people in five selected regions of Armenia: Kotayk, Ararat, Armavir, Vayots Dzor, and Syunik. With winter quickly approaching, teams working with REACT will help provide tools necessary for living through the cooler months. Providing utility support subsidies for 2000 displaced households, eco-briquettes for 500 families, and winterization kits to 200 families will help keep homes warm in colder temperatures.
 

Through the REACT project, PIN will also assist the economic integration of conflict-affected populations in Armenia. Providing vocational counsellors to help vulnerable people locate gaps in professional experience and identify relevant skills will allow over 1,500 beneficiaries the opportunity to financially support themselves. This program also provides assistance in drafting CVs, networking, advising, and interviewing.

Alongside economic counselling, PIN will organise short-term vocational and educational training courses in varying subjects. Following completion of this course, 700 participants will receive livelihood kits containing tools selected to help them start their careers as soon as possible.

Additionally, PIN will continue the operation of seven child-friendly spaces in the Goris community of Syunik Province. Through this, children have the opportunity to partake in recreational activities, participate in various cultural and sightseeing events, and perhaps most importantly: play with their peers.

The REACT project is implemented in partnership with ACTED, the Association of Armenian Social Workers (AASW), and Mission Armenia NGO. Our partnering organisations work on other key aspects of integration and aid in Armenia. This support includes multipurpose vouchers assistance, legal counselling, advocacy, case management, mapping of services, and referral systems.

This project is made possible thanks to generous funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). 

Read more here. 

This project contributed to saving lives, promoting wellbeing, and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable displaced and host populations affected by the conflict in Armenia. The project is funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and implemented by People in Need (PIN) in partnership with ACTED, REACH, Association of Armenian Social Workers (AASW), and Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation (ART).

This project responded to the needs of about 20,000 conflict-affected persons via a multi-sectoral program that aims at addressing the most pressing shelter, hygiene, and psychological needs of populations.

PIN increased access to safe and winterized shelter for the most vulnerable conflict-affected populations and supported host families with utility payments. The selection of the beneficiaries will be closely coordinated with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MSLA), local municipalities, and the marz administrations. 

The conflict in Nagorno Karabakh has triggered large population displacement to Armenia. The majority of the displaced stay in host families or collective shelters, such as kindergartens, that are ill-adapted for long-term stays due to poor hygiene and inadequate or insufficient facilities. This population influx raises serious epidemiological concerns, as poor hygiene and overcrowding in host communities and collective shelters are the ideal conditions for COVID-19 transmission. This crisis is furthered as Armenian citizens are struggling with the COVID-19 outbreak.

This project, funded by the European Union and implemented by People in Need (PIN), targets about 2400 conflict-affected persons by addressing their most pressing basic hygiene needs.

The contents of hygiene kits are aligned with national and international health standards.

“The hygiene kits include more than two dozen items in different quantities for COVID-19 prevention, self-care, and house/shelter cleaning: there were family kits for general usage and additional individual packages for children, women, and seniors.

PIN also produced a needs assessment report to ensure that conflict-affected populations have improved access to evidence-based relief.

Activities were focused on the Syunik region, specifically the Goris extended community, the city of Goris, and the Tegh extended community. 

People in Need, with funding from the US Agency for International Development, supported those affected by the conflict in Armenia by addressing their most pressing hygiene and winterisation needs, as well as by helping to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The project covers all of the regions of Armenia and responds to the needs of approximately 10,000 beneficiaries.

Using an integrated Shelter, Health and Wash response, the project is focused on:

• Enhancing access to safe and winterised shelter for the most vulnerable, displaced populations;

• Protecting the displaced and their host communities from the spread of COVID-19 by enhancing their awareness and enabling them to adopt practices to minimise the risk of transmitting or contracting the disease; and

• Ensuring that the most vulnerable populations affected by the conflict are able to practice basic hygiene and infection prevention behaviours.