UN to Provide Urgent Aid to Victims of Artsakh War

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched an urgent assistance program aimed at supporting vulnerable groups affected by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia. The initiative will be carried out in collaboration with the Armenian Ministry of Economy and the Food Safety Inspection Body to rapidly respond to interventions by the Armenian government.

The program will allocate support packages worth approximately $350,000 to beneficiaries, which will include animal feed, equipment, as well as funds for constructing or renovating poultry houses, fertilizers, and vegetable seeds.

On February 17, Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan and FAO Representative in Armenia Raimund Jehlen signed the program's launch document. “This program is an important component of the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Economy and the FAO, and we must work together to ensure that the support provided to farmers is not only transparent and targeted but also delivered in a timely manner. Our ministry is ready to assist in the prompt implementation of this program,” said Deputy Minister Arman Khojoyan.

The program also includes a capacity development component for beneficiaries, farmers, government staff, non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties to enhance public awareness and practical knowledge, better identify priority actions in emergencies, enabling them to navigate and recover from crisis situations more smoothly and quickly.

Special criteria will be used for selecting program beneficiaries, with a focus on women, children, the elderly, and families hosting the displaced.

Throughout all phases of the program's implementation, the FAO will work closely with the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and local self-government bodies.

“The program is part of the UN's response to the conflict and will address the immediate needs of the disadvantaged populations affected by the conflict, particularly regarding food security and nutrition improvement. However, beyond this, greater support is needed for the upcoming agricultural season,” noted FAO Representative Raimund Jehlen.