Research in Progress

Syrian Armenians in Armenia: Pathways and Barriers to Integration

Anastasia BaskinaInternational Fellow, CRRC-Armenia

6 February, 2013.Yerevan

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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 andinternational 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 orimpossible 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

• 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?

6. Assessment of stakeholders’ actions

Questions? ;)

Thank you!

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