Սյունիքի մարզպետի աշխատակազմ

On 28 June 2022, the Governor of Syunik, Robert Ghukasyan, received the UNHCR delegation of high-level officials: Almaz Burkutov, Senior Operations Officer, Andrei Arjupin, Protection Officer, and Sahakanush Yeghiazaryan, the Head of the UNHCR Field Office in Goris, which was established at the end of 2021.

The parties discussed the situation and the issues of the displaced families from NK living in the host communities in Syunik region and the UNHCR humanitarian support activities aimed at ensuring the protection and the wellbeing of the displaced families. With regard to UNHCR’s community support and capacity-building activities, it was noted that 17 community support projects were successfully accomplished in 2021 and several new projects were in the pipeline.

Thanking UNHCR for the already implemented and the ongoing projects, the Governor of Syunik expressed his readiness to continue and expand the ongoing cooperation between the Syunik territorial administration and UNHCR, highlighting the importance of continuous sharing of information and resources.

On his turn, Mr. Burkutov noted with contentment about the Syunik community’s generous approach in hosting and providing crucial assistance to the displaced families and helping them integrate in the host society. On behalf of UNHCR, he expressed his sincere thankfulness to the authorities and the entire Syunik community in that regard.

During discussions, the parties also focused on the important aspect of coordination vis-à-vis UNHCR’s and other organisations’ projects and activities being implemented or envisaged in the Syunik region. As mentioned by UNHCR, given its humanitarian mandate, the agency was providing protection activities and assistance projects enabling the displaced families to meet their priority needs. As observed, the families were currently in dire need of longer-term livelihood and development activities in order to achieve self-reliance and live a dignified life in the host community. Hence, the Syunik authorities’ cooperation with international organisations, state bodies, the civil society and community-based NGOs, and donors was deemed ultimately important in order for the displaced families’ smooth enrolment in the various actors’ ongoing and future integration and development projects.

Considering the role and the scope of responsibility of the territorial administration, the UNHCR officials suggested that the Syunik Governor’s office assume coordination of the humanitarian and development projects implemented by UNHCR and other organisations in the Syunik region.

The parties also brainstormed on more effective ways of cooperation and agreed on further topics for discussion in the near future.