When is the Arrival of the First Group of Armenians from Aleppo Expected in Armenia?

In Aleppo, there are still around 10-12 thousand Armenians, whose evacuation can be organized if a suitable opportunity arises. The first group of Syrian Armenians is expected to arrive in Armenia on December 14. According to Armenpress, this information was shared by Hovhannes Aleksanyan, head of the repatriation integration department of the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of Armenia, during a discussion at the Media Center in Yerevan titled "The Situation in Aleppo: The Fate of the Armenian Community, Security Concerns, and Humanitarian Needs."

Summarizing the current situation in Aleppo following its takeover by anti-government forces on November 30, the speaker indicated that in the 1-2 days following the escalation, some Armenian families managed to leave the city using secondary routes. The Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs maintains contact with these families, some of whom have settled in the capital city of Damascus, while others are in Latakia and Kessab.

According to Aleksanyan, currently, there are around 10-12 thousand Armenians in Aleppo, mainly distributed across three districts: Nor Gyugh, Aziziyah, and Suleymaniye. There are also Armenians in other neighborhoods.

He reported that following a certain break, the first large public meeting of representatives from the Armenian community took place on December 3 at the St. Mary Church in Aleppo. The Berio Diocese, with the financial intermediation of the Cilicia Armenian Catholicosate, is providing assistance to needy families in the city. Other organizations are also gradually ramping up charitable efforts. Due to a shortage of bread and water supplies in Aleppo, a significant rise in prices has been recorded.

Hovhannes Aleksanyan also noted that the repatriation integration department of the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs is in contact with local community institutions and the Armenian embassy in Syria. The latter, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, has established a hotline for compatriots. All agencies are closely monitoring the developments and are prepared to provide assistance to Armenians in Aleppo at any moment.

“At this time, it is not possible to organize evacuations or provide assistance. If there is an opportunity and conditions allow, this can be considered, but currently, such an opportunity does not exist. The airport and the industrial zone in Aleppo are now under the control of Islamist groups. There is no guarantee for the safe evacuation of a large number of people,” Aleksanyan stated.

He mentioned that a flight from Damascus to Yerevan is scheduled for December 14, and the first group of Syrian Armenians who have escaped danger will arrive in Armenia. “We are ready to welcome our compatriots at any time and to address their issues. We have maintained a program of free public healthcare support for Syrian Armenians from previous years, under which we are prepared to consider the needs of our compatriots. We also urge our partner organizations to implement joint programs,” emphasized the department head.

As the second largest city in Syria and the city with the highest Armenian population, Aleppo came under the control of Islamist rebels on November 30. The Armenian embassy in Syria has stated that a safe evacuation option is currently not available. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia is closely monitoring the developments and all options will be considered if an opportunity arises.