Photos: A Large Influx of Artsakh Residents in Gyumri - Hospitals Served as Shelters

Gyumri has been hosting displaced individuals from Artsakh since yesterday. Despite the city’s lack of housing stock and significant homelessness issues, all city hall officials are working tirelessly to find accommodation for the influx. This was reported by Aravot.am.

It was noticeable that city hall staff were actively ensuring that no long queues formed in the hallways, demonstrating their operational efficiency. However, the scene was tragic; with tears in their eyes, families holding children and small bundles of their belongings were waiting, while elderly individuals appeared so exhausted that they had fallen asleep sitting down.

Gyumri Mayor Vardges Samsonyan has predominantly been on the first floor, reviewing documents of our compatriots from Artsakh. He sometimes approached those seated, engaging in conversation and offering comfort. City hall employees also approached to offer sweets and coffee. The mayor reported that over 600 families have been accommodated, with plans to house an additional 200 individuals.

According to the mayor, people are continuously arriving, and they have established 24-hour shifts, providing hotline numbers for immediate contact in case of needs. Vardges Samsonyan mentioned that he is simultaneously touring municipal and state-owned facilities to explore possibilities for further accommodations. Cosmetic repairs will be made to host these compatriots.

Sports schools and former hospital buildings are also being considered as shelters. The former building of the Gyumri Oncology Dispensary will be inhabited by families forcibly displaced from Artsakh, while the building of the Infectious Diseases Hospital is already occupied and has been serving as a shelter since yesterday.

“In our city, we have about 2000 hotels and hostels, but most are occupied. Agreements have been reached, and guests will gradually leave; we are also trying to accommodate people there,” said Vardges Samsonyan.

The mayor noted that once this phase is overcome, they will proceed to the next stages, such as meetings with business owners and job offers. For instance, a legal professional was just offered a job, and he will start working at the Gyumri city hall tomorrow.

“There are significant challenges, but thank God, we are coping. They come, there’s no place, we think, we search, and suddenly it works out. We are working late into the night, prepared to work tirelessly to accommodate our forcibly displaced individuals; we will do everything to ensure they feel comfortable in our city,” said the mayor.

Meanwhile, the mayor and city hall employees were assisting an elderly brother and sister who had arrived from Stepanakert with gathering their belongings, as shelter had been arranged for them. The elderly woman, with tears in her eyes, smiled momentarily, saying, “I know it will be good; just as we have come, we will return to Artsakh.”