Cash and psychosocial support for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh

ASB Georgia and its partners provide cash and psychosocial support to people who have fled Nagorno-Karabakh. People with disabilities and their families, elderly people and their carers, large families and single parents are the main focus of the aid. The project is funded by the German Foreign Office and Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH).

The project

Project title: Cash and psychosocial support for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh
Project region: Armenia
Funding: Federal Foreign Office and Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH)
Project volume: € 4,777,777.00
Project duration: 01.10.2023 - 30.09.2024 (1 year)
Target group: People with disabilities and their families, older people and their carers, families with three or more children and single parents

On 19 September 2023, another conflict broke out along the line of contact between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. As a result, thousands of civilians from the conflict-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia. A large proportion of the refugees are elderly people, women and children. In most cases, the refugees have been able to take only the bare necessities with them: Clothing and a few personal belongings, usually packed in one or two suitcases or plastic bags.

Photo: ASB Armenia
Photo: ASB Armenia
Photo: ASB Armenia
Photo: ASB Armenia
Photo: ASB Armenia
Photo: ASB Armenia

How ASB is helping in Armenia

Multipurpose cash withdrawals

During the last week of September and the first week of October, ASB carried out an in-depth needs assessment in the field in order to accurately assess the situation and provide the necessary assistance to those affected by the conflict.
Based on the results, 4,673 people who were most in need were supported with cash grants for two months. The aim of the cash distribution was to enable people to meet their immediate needs upon arrival in Armenia.
As the project progresses, 2,375 refugees will continue to receive monthly cash transfers to buy food and hygiene items.

Psychosocial support

Psychosocial support aims to build the refugees' self-confidence and self-esteem to facilitate their integration in Armenia. In addition, psychosocial support focuses on coping with the stress people experience as a result of their displacement. They are also helped to deal with the trauma associated with displacement and the loss of loved ones.
Individual and group sessions with professional psychologists are offered. During the sessions, refugees have the opportunity to talk freely about their feelings, needs and traumatic experiences resulting from the conflict and their flight.
Over the course of the project, 650 refugees will receive psychosocial support.