際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo

Syrian Armenians in Armenia: Pathways and Barriers to Integration

Download as PPTX, PDF
C
CRRC Armenia

This document summarizes research being conducted on Syrian Armenians in Armenia and their integration barriers. It provides background on the 60,000-80,000 strong Armenian diaspora in Syria that has fled to Armenia due to civil war. While 6000-7000 are estimated to be in Armenia, only 4000-5000 may have registered. Major barriers to integration include lack of housing, unemployment, low salaries, and language difficulties. The response from the Armenian government and NGOs is assessed, noting initiatives to aid with citizenship, healthcare, loans and jobs, but also a lack of coordination between stakeholders.

1 of 12
Download to read offline
Research in Progress Syrian Armenians in Armenia: Pathways and Barriers to Integration Anastasia Baskina International Fellow, CRRC-Armenia 6 February, 2013. Yerevan CRRC-Armenia www.crrc.am www.crrccenters.org
Presentation Structure 1. Research objectives and methodology 2. Background information and basic facts 3. Legal status of Syrian Armenians in Armenia 4. Major barriers to integration 5. Key stakeholders and their response 6. Assessement of stakeholders actions 7. Q & A and Discussion
1. Research objectives and methodology Research objectives: To identify major barriers to integration of Syrian Armenians in Armenia To examine measures undertaken by the government, civil society and international organizations to address the issue Methodology: 10 Expert interviews (MoD, Coordination Center, State Migration Service, Mission Armenia, Red Cross, RepatArmenia, Cilicean school, ) 9 Interviews with representatives of SA Diaspora in Armenia Limitations: No official statistics available, difficult or impossible to verify numbers and facts
2. Background information Armenian Diaspora in Syria before the war: 60.000-80.000 people Concentrated mainly in Aleppo; middle-class Civil war in Syria since March 2011 Thousands SA left for Armenia, Lebanon, the Persian Gulf states, Europe Aleppo-Yerevan flights are currently suspended. Latakia-Yerevan flight instead, 10-12 hours by bus to Latakia from Aleppo 6000-7000 Syrian Armenians in Armenia because of the conflict; though the real figure could be lower - 4000-5000 Only about 10% register with the State Migration Service 90% stay in Yerevan
3. Legal status Options: Armenian passport Residence permit (1, 5, 10 years) Visa Very few apply for refugee status (580 as of mid-January) Refugees de facto but not de jure
4. Major barriers to integration Housing (lack of social housing) Unemployment and low salaries (most work outside of their field) Food Winter clothing, shoes Household items, furniture, etc. Language False expectations
5. Key stakeholders Governmental actors: Ministry of Diaspora, M. of Economics, M. of Health, M. of Education and Science, National Center for SME, International organizations, UN, NGOs, Diaspora and ecumenical organizations, foreign governments: Center for Coordination of Syrian Armenians Issues, AGBU, ARF, Hayastan All Armenian Fund, Cilicia charitable organization, RepatArmenia, Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation, UNHCR, UNICEF, Armenian Red Cross Society, Mission Armenia, Saved Relics, Kuwait,
5.1. Governmental response Applications for Armenian citizenship from Syria Visa at the border Exemption from visa and residence permit fees Free health care University tuition fees Syrian driving licenses Orientation classes for prospective businessmen Start-up loans up to USD 12.000 with 5% interest rate Job fairs, consultations
5.2. Non-governmental response Center for Coordination of SA issues coordination, aid distribution AGBU housing subsidies (AMD 40.000-60.000) Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table food coupons to 200 families Armenia Relief Society Help your brother initiative UNHCR (through Red Cross and Mission Armenia) - coupons for winter clothing, shoes; furniture, household items, medical care Cilicia charity Syrian Armenian school in Yerevan (around 310 kids) Hayastan All-Armenian Fund RepatArmenia Syrian Armenian Market Project Kuwait USD 100.000 - food coupons for 1000 families
6. Assessment of stakeholders actions Lack of centralized information and communication between all parties involved - > word of mouth, rumors Delayed response (housing!) Limited resources creating structural barriers Passive approach to fundraising Government focus on business leaders so far Hard to make needs assessment fair aid distribution?
Questions? ;)
Thank you! www.crrc.am www.crrccenters.org

More Related Content

Syrian Armenians in Armenia: Pathways and Barriers to Integration

  • 1. Research in Progress Syrian Armenians in Armenia: Pathways and Barriers to Integration Anastasia Baskina International Fellow, CRRC-Armenia 6 February, 2013. Yerevan CRRC-Armenia www.crrc.am www.crrccenters.org
  • 2. Presentation Structure 1. Research objectives and methodology 2. Background information and basic facts 3. Legal status of Syrian Armenians in Armenia 4. Major barriers to integration 5. Key stakeholders and their response 6. Assessement of stakeholders actions 7. Q & A and Discussion
  • 3. 1. Research objectives and methodology Research objectives: To identify major barriers to integration of Syrian Armenians in Armenia To examine measures undertaken by the government, civil society and international organizations to address the issue Methodology: 10 Expert interviews (MoD, Coordination Center, State Migration Service, Mission Armenia, Red Cross, RepatArmenia, Cilicean school, ) 9 Interviews with representatives of SA Diaspora in Armenia Limitations: No official statistics available, difficult or impossible to verify numbers and facts
  • 4. 2. Background information Armenian Diaspora in Syria before the war: 60.000-80.000 people Concentrated mainly in Aleppo; middle-class Civil war in Syria since March 2011 Thousands SA left for Armenia, Lebanon, the Persian Gulf states, Europe Aleppo-Yerevan flights are currently suspended. Latakia-Yerevan flight instead, 10-12 hours by bus to Latakia from Aleppo 6000-7000 Syrian Armenians in Armenia because of the conflict; though the real figure could be lower - 4000-5000 Only about 10% register with the State Migration Service 90% stay in Yerevan
  • 5. 3. Legal status Options: Armenian passport Residence permit (1, 5, 10 years) Visa Very few apply for refugee status (580 as of mid-January) Refugees de facto but not de jure
  • 6. 4. Major barriers to integration Housing (lack of social housing) Unemployment and low salaries (most work outside of their field) Food Winter clothing, shoes Household items, furniture, etc. Language False expectations
  • 7. 5. Key stakeholders Governmental actors: Ministry of Diaspora, M. of Economics, M. of Health, M. of Education and Science, National Center for SME, International organizations, UN, NGOs, Diaspora and ecumenical organizations, foreign governments: Center for Coordination of Syrian Armenians Issues, AGBU, ARF, Hayastan All Armenian Fund, Cilicia charitable organization, RepatArmenia, Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation, UNHCR, UNICEF, Armenian Red Cross Society, Mission Armenia, Saved Relics, Kuwait,
  • 8. 5.1. Governmental response Applications for Armenian citizenship from Syria Visa at the border Exemption from visa and residence permit fees Free health care University tuition fees Syrian driving licenses Orientation classes for prospective businessmen Start-up loans up to USD 12.000 with 5% interest rate Job fairs, consultations
  • 9. 5.2. Non-governmental response Center for Coordination of SA issues coordination, aid distribution AGBU housing subsidies (AMD 40.000-60.000) Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table food coupons to 200 families Armenia Relief Society Help your brother initiative UNHCR (through Red Cross and Mission Armenia) - coupons for winter clothing, shoes; furniture, household items, medical care Cilicia charity Syrian Armenian school in Yerevan (around 310 kids) Hayastan All-Armenian Fund RepatArmenia Syrian Armenian Market Project Kuwait USD 100.000 - food coupons for 1000 families
  • 10. 6. Assessment of stakeholders actions Lack of centralized information and communication between all parties involved - > word of mouth, rumors Delayed response (housing!) Limited resources creating structural barriers Passive approach to fundraising Government focus on business leaders so far Hard to make needs assessment fair aid distribution?
  • 12. Thank you! www.crrc.am www.crrccenters.org