Humanitarian Aid from the Diaspora First Goes to the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ Warehouse, then to Artsakh: Deputy Minister Pambukhchyan

I would like to thank all of our citizens and compatriots living in the diaspora, who have spontaneously organized and delivered humanitarian aid since the first day of the war, and I have some clarifications in this regard.

This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, Armen Pambukhchyan, during a briefing at the Armenian Unified Information Center. “I want to emphasize a few points, particularly aimed at our compatriots living in the diaspora, who are contributing their part and intensively sending humanitarian aid to Armenia. I would like to explain how the acceptance and distribution of the aid takes place. Any cargo entering Armenia is handed over for the benefit of the state. The cargo received in the name of the Ministry of Emergency Situations is taken to the Ministry’s warehouse, sorted, and categorized according to its purpose,” said Pambukhchyan.

According to him, health-related supplies, defense materials, food, or clothing are often included. Food and clothing are separated and sent to Artsakh on a priority basis for citizens located on the frontline or in shelters. “Some of the food and clothing goes to citizens temporarily arriving in Armenia from Artsakh. Occasionally, there is cargo sent by our compatriots to specific recipients. Upon receiving it, we cannot transfer it to physical or legal entities. In such cases, if there is a specific address, it is organized through the communities. The community must inform us in advance that it has a need for a certain amount of food, and we can provide that food from the Ministry's warehouse to the respective community,” he explained.

Pambukhchyan added that all cargo is documented, and the acceptance and transfer are carried out with the appropriate acts, and everything is controllable and has accountability. He finally called on our compatriots in the diaspora to trust the state bodies, which will direct the shipments according to addresses and purposes.