New Artsakh Outreach Program and Other Aid for Vulnerable and Refugees of Artsakh war
Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland – 20/12/2020
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On December 17th 2020, His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and Ireland, held a Zoom meeting with the Head and representatives of the humanitarian aid programme of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Barnabas Fund. The meeting was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barssamian, Pontifical Legate of the Western Diocese and the Head of the Humanitarian Aid Committee of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Cor Episcopos Patrick Sookhdeo, PhD, DD, International Director of Barnabas Fund, Dr. Karen Nazaryan, (Humanitarian Aid Committee Armenia), Mrs Sofia Hovhannisyan (Humanitarian Aid Committee Armenia) and Mrs Gayane Gyurjyan (UK Armenian Diocese Aid Committee).
Firstly, reports were given on the ongoing project of £100,000 to assist in Artsakh the families of the vulnerable, which is being implemented through the Diocese of Artsakh and Izmirlian Hospital of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. It was reported that 84 families have received one-off contributions of approximately £500 cash and that the ultimate number of beneficiaries will be increased to a total of 100 families. Furthermore, funding will go towards helping those in Artsakh with COVID testing as well as any hospital treatment they may require. The representatives of the Holy See also reported that funding will be utilised to finance a $30,000 USD existing food package distribution project in Artsakh.
Also discussed was the newly established Artsakh outreach programme. Through the efforts of the UK Armenian Diocese and Barnabas Fund £63,000 was allocated for the support of 100 refugee families, now in Armenia, to provide them with essential food supplies for the winter months ahead. By the end of this month, the list of the beneficiary families of this outreach project will be made available to donors.
Those present also discussed future projects, namely, the plans made to create a specialized hospital care unit for some 2000 wounded soldiers of the Artsakh war and the initiation of small development (job creation) projects for the refugees.
These conversations were very promising in nature and there was a strong willingness on both sides to support the project.
You can donate through a UK-based charity, Friends of Etchmiadzin with via a bank account (The Friends of Etchmiadzin, Account Nr: 27895718, Sort Code: 50-30-10, Ref: Assist a Family) or by sending a cheque payable to The Friends of Etchmiadzin to Bishop’s House, 27 Haven Green, London W5 2NZ.
For any questions, please contact: info@armenianchurch.org.uk or Ms Hrachik Sarian on 07949810704
