Switzerland Deploys Specialists from Humanitarian Aid Corps to Lori and Tavush

The Swiss embassy in Armenia has announced that, at the request of Armenian authorities, Switzerland is preparing to send specialists from the Humanitarian Aid Corps to the disaster zone to assess the stability of bridges and other infrastructure.

“For the work to be carried out on-site, Switzerland plans to allocate up to 500,000 Swiss francs. The floods caused by heavy rain in northern Armenia have resulted in human casualties and significant material damage. More than 400 people have been evacuated. Many infrastructures, notably roads and bridges, as well as gas and water supply systems, have been damaged or have failed. In some villages, houses have collapsed, and mud and water have risen nearly two meters high,” the statement said.

Considering the scale of the disaster, Armenian authorities have appealed to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM) for assistance, specifically requesting the deployment of civil engineering experts. Switzerland has responded promptly to this request, proposing relevant support.

Following a positive response and interest from the Armenian authorities, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is sending eight specialists from the Humanitarian Aid Corps (SHA) to Armenia, including engineers and technical experts. They departed for Armenia from Switzerland last night with the aim of assisting Armenian authorities in evaluating the damaged bridges and other infrastructure.

“The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which is already present in Armenia and the South Caucasus, has allocated up to 500,000 Swiss francs for this rapid response project in the disaster area, which is also among the most vulnerable regions of the country. At the same time, Switzerland continues to closely monitor the flooding situations in Europe and neighboring countries. Switzerland is prepared to respond quickly to any requests for assistance,” the statement added.