The plight of Karabakh Armenian refugees

Despite the measures allocated by the government in Yerevan for the tens of thousands of exiles who fled the Armenian-majority area militarily taken by Baku, many people still have nowhere to sleep and are forced to spend the night under the open sky. No one trusts the promises of the Azeris who have already erased all traces of Christian roots in the other disputed province of Nakhicevan.

Yerevan (AsiaNews) - Despite all the efforts of the Yerevan government, the population who fled Nagorno Karabakh which has now been ceded to Azerbaijan finds itself in a very difficult situation. A few days ago the Armenian authorities began disbursing subsidies amounting to 100 thousand Armenian drames (about 235 euros), and at the Parakar collection center the refugees are trying to understand when and in what form they will receive this sum.

One of them, Karo Ovseljan from the town of Martuni, questioned by Azatutyun journalists, said that "so far we have not seen any kind of help, absolutely nothing". As many others confirm, support for the moment only comes from distant relatives and a few acquaintances, and also from generous people on their own initiative. However, at least beds and blankets are starting to arrive in Parakar.

Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan announced on his Facebook page that “the promised 100 thousand drachmas were transferred to approximately 50 thousand of our brothers and sisters who were forcibly evacuated from Nagorno Karabakh, at least to those who had access to them at the time of the transfer a credit card." He also underlined that first and second category invalids, and elderly people over 75 years old, will receive the money in cash.

Government spokeswoman Nazeli Bagdasaryan explained that the procedures for distributing aid will become more effective in the coming days, especially if those without credit go to a bank to open an account, which will be registered at no cost. In her words, "at the moment we are cross-referencing the data, and as we complete the forms we proceed with the transfer of the money", also taking into account the time needed for the banks to send the transfers.

We are also awaiting confirmation of another government provision, whereby refugees who have no reference residence in Armenia will be sent 50 thousand drames monthly to pay for rent and municipal services. The Armenian state has granted temporary accommodation to around half of the 100,000 forced emigrants, most of whom are divided into the various regions and not just in the collection area, where the assistance centers are working under a very harsh regime, with great difficulty.

Correspondents have met many people who so far have no place to sleep, and are forced to spend the night under the open sky. As Elmira Nersisyan says, "my daughter and I settled in a sheltered corner next to the church door, we have no relatives or friends in Armenia... they sent us here, and we continue to wait, until someone comes to take us and give us some sort of accommodation." Elmira is 74 years old, and her daughter is an invalid; they immediately escaped from Stepanakert, and she learned about the collection center by chance, while she was wandering the streets, “but I hope to find a job and manage to get by”, she assures her with a proud spirit.

The pensioner Jasha Movsisyan is also alone, and after escaping from the village of Nogarjukh in the province of Askeran he managed to get to Yerevan, where he found a niece who gave him food and hospitality, but he too claims to be "not accustomed to living at the expense of others." Settlement is difficult for everyone, but the exiles of Nagorno Karabakh try not to lose heart, and look to the future with optimism.

The unsuccessful outcome of the very long conflict with Azerbaijan had been expected for a long time, and most of the inhabitants of the region had decided to leave anyway, not trusting the promises of the Azerbaijanis. Everyone knows about the policy of erasing traditions and the Christian religion in the lands occupied by Baku, as has already happened in the other long-disputed province of Nakhicevan, where only a couple of 83 Armenian churches were saved.

Photo: Profile X of  Siranush Sargsyan