GIVING TUESDAY 2024

It has been more than a year since more than 120,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced from their homes in Artsakh. SOAR is dedicated to assisting these families as their plight continues.

The problems for displaced families from Artsakh remain significant. Armenia's state support initiative, which provides only 50,000AMD monthly (approximately $135) to cover living and other expenses, is slated to end in December 2024. Even if the state program is extended, the per-family allocation is so low that major and long-term assistance from humanitarian organizations, like SOAR, is critical to their survival.

The three new families below have just been referred to SOAR. Are all in desperate need of housing and household furnishings and supplies.

They have lost EVERYTHING!

 

FALLEN SOLDIER AND DISPLACED ARTSAKH FAMILY OF ARKADI AVANESYAN

 

Arkadi and his wife Marine had been living in the city Martakert in Artsakh. A few days after finding out that his wife was pregnant, he gave his life 0n May 11, 2023, while serving during the blockade. The Red Cross helped Marine and her mother who was suffering from kidney failure, relocate to Armenia in August of 2023 because they were unable to get the medical treatment they needed because of the blockade. Marine's three brothers were forcibly removed from their homes in Artsakh September 2023. On January 12, 2024, Marine gave birth to Arkadi, named after his father, whom he will never know. Marine had been in her 4th year of college studying to be a physical therapist but was unable to complete her education because of her displacement from Artsakh. She would like to complete her education. Currently Marine, her son Arkadi, her mother and three brothers are all living in a 3-room apartment in Vanadzor.

 

DISPLACED ARTSAKH FAMILY OF HOVHANNES EMIRYAN

Hovhannes, his wife Nana, their daughter Maria (DOB 6/14/2010), their son Alber (DOB 11/15/2021), and Hovhannes's parents, have been displaced from their home three times since the 2020 Artsakh War. Up until the war in 2020 they had been farming and raising animals on a large property in Martakert in Artsakh. They were forced to move to Shahmasur and were renting a home there. In early 2023 they were again forced to move to Askeran another region in Artsakh, only to then be forcibly removed from their home later that year in September and moved to Armenia. During the last displacement to Armenia, Hovhannes's father was killed in a car accident. Hovhannes and Nana have both been looking for work but have not yet been able to find employment. The small assistance from the government will end March 2025. They are currently renting two rooms in an old hostel.

 

DISPLACED ARTSAKH FAMILY OF SAMVEL SARGSYAN

Samvel with his wife Ruzanna, three sons: Gegham (DOB 1/7/1999), Rudik (DOB106/2005), and Mher (DOB 1/27/2009) and four daughters: Marianna (DOB 3/24/2001), Svetlana (DOB 5/31/2003), Susanna (DOB 3/24/2007), and Karolina (DOB 10/20/2010) were displaced from Stepanakert, Artsakh, following the conflict in September 2023. They initially found temporary shelter in a hotel in Vanadzor and have since moved to a rented apartment in Vanadzor. The family faces substantial monthly expenses with rent alone. Samvel had served in the Armed Forces of Artsakh as a contract soldier, holding the position of commander. He has health problems after being wounded three times, participating in all wars of Artsakh from 1991 to 2023. Ruzanna is working from home taking in jobs as a tailor. Some of the children have been able to find part time work locally but need to find permanent employment. Svetlana has taken exams and has gained admittance to design/home environment department of the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia but needs tuition.

 

PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR GIVING TUESDAY CAMPAIGN AND HELP US HELP THESE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST EVERYTHING PUT THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER!

 

Inquiries? Please contact George at gyacoubian@soar-us.org.

 

The Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief is the world's only charitable organization devoted exclusively to helping orphaned Armenian children. SOAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Visit here to learn more about SOAR's distribution methods and quality control protocol.