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SYRIAN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE DISCUSSED WITH US ADMINISTRATION
http://asbarez.com/111675/syrian-humanitarian-assistance-discussed-with-us-administration/
Wednesday, July 17th, 2013
Devastation in Aleppo has hampered the situation for Armenians
living there
U.S. Officials Hold Briefing With Armenian-American Leaders On Syrian
Humanitarian Assistance
WASHINGTON-Armenian American civic, church, and charitable
organization leaders from across the United States took part today in
a U.S. government briefing on Syria humanitarian assistance efforts
by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development.
The briefing was held at the State Department and included
participation, via tele-conference, by representatives of a broad
range of community leaders. The full array of urgent humanitarian
issues of concern to Armenian Americans were raised by community
leaders during the meeting.
The Armenian community of Syria, like many other Christian and
minority populations, has been caught in the middle of fighting
between government and opposition forces, suffering along with the
rest of the population from food and energy shortages, blockades,
violence, and instability. The large Christian Armenian population
in Aleppo, along with the smaller communities in Damascus, Kessab,
and elsewhere have been targets of attacks and kidnappings.
Among the Armenian American community's publicly-stated humanitarian
priorities, going into today's meeting, were:
1. Ensuring the balanced and needs-based distribution of U.S.
humanitarian aid to all areas of Syria, including those like Aleppo
with large Armenian and other Christian populations;
2. Preventing humanitarian blockades of civilian populations, such
as those creating crises in Aleppo;
3. Providing additional assistance to the Armenian government and NGO's
supporting and helping to settle Syrians who have fled to Armenia, and
4. Assisting the Armenian Church and charitable groups in Lebanon
as they support the very considerable humanitarian needs of refugees
from Syria.
While the Armenian presence in Syria has a very long history, the
majority of Syrian Armenians are descendants of those who found
shelter, safety, and a new life in Syria after the Armenian Genocide
of 1915-1923. The Armenian community numbered approximately 100,000
at the start of the present conflict. Estimates today are that as
many as half of the community has left Syria, some permanently,
others with the hope that they will be able to return. More than
10,000 Syrian Armenians have already fled to the Republic of Armenia,
and another 10,000 or more have found refuge in Lebanon.
The Armenian American community, along with Armenian communities around
the world, has undertaken far-reaching and life-saving humanitarian
efforts, through the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Evangelical
churches, Syrian Armenian Relief Fund, Armenian Relief Society,
Armenian General Benevolent Union and other avenues. The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) has undertaken a grassroots
effort to educate Congressional legislators about the plight of
Armenians and other affected minorities in Syria and urged Congress
to provide relief and resettlement support for at-risk Armenians and
other Christian populations in Syria and throughout the Middle East
as part of the FY 2014 foreign aid bill.
Read the ANCA's testimony before the House Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations.
http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=2244
Citizens and civil society groups in the Republic of Armenia have
organized the "Help your Brother" civic initiatives, airlifting
relief supplies to Armenians and other Syrian populations caught in
the conflict. The Armenian government has also undertaken a broad
array of actions to support and integrate refugees from Syria. These
efforts are ongoing, but do not represent a substitute for the scope
and scale of aid that can be provided by the international community.
http://asbarez.com/111675/syrian-humanitarian-assistance-discussed-with-us-administration/
Wednesday, July 17th, 2013
Devastation in Aleppo has hampered the situation for Armenians
living there
U.S. Officials Hold Briefing With Armenian-American Leaders On Syrian
Humanitarian Assistance
WASHINGTON-Armenian American civic, church, and charitable
organization leaders from across the United States took part today in
a U.S. government briefing on Syria humanitarian assistance efforts
by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development.
The briefing was held at the State Department and included
participation, via tele-conference, by representatives of a broad
range of community leaders. The full array of urgent humanitarian
issues of concern to Armenian Americans were raised by community
leaders during the meeting.
The Armenian community of Syria, like many other Christian and
minority populations, has been caught in the middle of fighting
between government and opposition forces, suffering along with the
rest of the population from food and energy shortages, blockades,
violence, and instability. The large Christian Armenian population
in Aleppo, along with the smaller communities in Damascus, Kessab,
and elsewhere have been targets of attacks and kidnappings.
Among the Armenian American community's publicly-stated humanitarian
priorities, going into today's meeting, were:
1. Ensuring the balanced and needs-based distribution of U.S.
humanitarian aid to all areas of Syria, including those like Aleppo
with large Armenian and other Christian populations;
2. Preventing humanitarian blockades of civilian populations, such
as those creating crises in Aleppo;
3. Providing additional assistance to the Armenian government and NGO's
supporting and helping to settle Syrians who have fled to Armenia, and
4. Assisting the Armenian Church and charitable groups in Lebanon
as they support the very considerable humanitarian needs of refugees
from Syria.
While the Armenian presence in Syria has a very long history, the
majority of Syrian Armenians are descendants of those who found
shelter, safety, and a new life in Syria after the Armenian Genocide
of 1915-1923. The Armenian community numbered approximately 100,000
at the start of the present conflict. Estimates today are that as
many as half of the community has left Syria, some permanently,
others with the hope that they will be able to return. More than
10,000 Syrian Armenians have already fled to the Republic of Armenia,
and another 10,000 or more have found refuge in Lebanon.
The Armenian American community, along with Armenian communities around
the world, has undertaken far-reaching and life-saving humanitarian
efforts, through the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Evangelical
churches, Syrian Armenian Relief Fund, Armenian Relief Society,
Armenian General Benevolent Union and other avenues. The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) has undertaken a grassroots
effort to educate Congressional legislators about the plight of
Armenians and other affected minorities in Syria and urged Congress
to provide relief and resettlement support for at-risk Armenians and
other Christian populations in Syria and throughout the Middle East
as part of the FY 2014 foreign aid bill.
Read the ANCA's testimony before the House Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations.
http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=2244
Citizens and civil society groups in the Republic of Armenia have
organized the "Help your Brother" civic initiatives, airlifting
relief supplies to Armenians and other Syrian populations caught in
the conflict. The Armenian government has also undertaken a broad
array of actions to support and integrate refugees from Syria. These
efforts are ongoing, but do not represent a substitute for the scope
and scale of aid that can be provided by the international community.