Karabakh refugee families face difficulties getting children ready for school

More than 10 thousand children from Karabakh refugee families need school supplies before the school year, the "40 + 10" program has been cancelled, Karabakh activists have announced a collection of aid. After the "40 + 10" program was cancelled, refugees are forced to economize greatly, including on purchases for schoolchildren.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, the "40 + 10" program was in effect for Karabakh refugees in Armenia, under which 40 thousand drams (about $103) were allocated to each refugee for rent and 10 thousand (about $25.8) for utility bills. From April 2025, it was decided not to extend this program to people of working age, but to leave only payments of 30 thousand drams for children under 18, people with disabilities and pensioners. The number of applications from refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh wishing to receive Armenian citizenship has increased several times in recent months, the Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia reported. They have to change their passport not only for the sake of the housing program, but also for employment, the displaced persons said.

Karabakh activists have launched an all-Armenian fundraiser to help children from refugee families before the school year. Monitoring revealed more than 10 thousand children in need of backpacks, notebooks with pens and school clothes.

"We conducted monitoring and registered that before the new school year more than 10 thousand children need school supplies and clothes. Unfortunately, the families of these children faced major social problems, especially after the state support program "40 + 10 thousand drams for housing and utilities" for refugees was suspended. These families need to pay for rent on their own, and this greatly affects the well-being of children - the family's income does not allow them to lead a decent life. Families who have lost a breadwinner or one of the parents are especially in need. We will not be able to help everyone, but initially we planned on 1000 children. Last year, for example, we managed to support up to 2,000 children so that they could go to school without embarrassment,” the chairwoman of the NGO “In the Name of Artsakh (Artsakh is the self-designation of Nagorno-Karabakh - note of the “Caucasian Knot”)” Saida Poghosyan told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Organizations, retail outlets, and individuals responded to the call. The announcement of the collection was published on a social network, she said. "Assistance is provided to refugee families living in the regions of Armenia. We have a list of those in need. We will start with Goris in the coming days," Poghosyan said.

Hrayr Gabrielyan from the Askeran region of Nagorno-Karabakh settled with his family, which includes five minor children, in the city of Artashat in Armenia. The man said that they took a plot of land in Aratashat to engage in agricultural activities, but they were unable to harvest due to severe hail in the spring. And recently he has had heart problems, he needs an operation, doctors have forbidden physical labor.

"I was seriously wounded during the war, now the consequences are taking their toll. If I disobey the doctors, I risk leaving my family without a breadwinner. Since July 1, only children have received state support, 30 thousand drams each, but it all goes towards rent. It was not possible to register a disability because of bureaucratic red tape in Armenia. Relatives help a little, but it goes towards food. I can't imagine how to buy new clothes or school supplies for the children. Now I am looking for a job, something like a guard. But it is difficult to find work in Artashat. And to go to Yerevan or another settlement, you need to have money for transportation. My wife is trying to find a job, but again to no avail. We asked the government for help, but we were refused. It is a very difficult situation," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Astghik Avanesyan from Stepanakert has four children. After leaving Nagorno-Karabakh, the family tried to settle in different cities of Armenia, where renting housing was inexpensive. But due to the lack of work, as well as the fact that the younger children needed psychological help, the Avanesyans settled in Yerevan. The woman cannot go to work, since the children require constant care. Her husband earns extra money by private passenger transportation. The car is old, so orders are not frequent. According to the woman, most of the income, including social support for children in the amount of 30 thousand drams per month for each child, goes towards rent and treatment.

“The youngest child is still under the supervision of doctors, because after the bombing of Stepanakert, he does not speak, is still afraid of the dark, noise, and being alone. By September 1, the older children were only bought the bare necessities, and the younger children got what the older children left behind - clothes, shoes. And in Stepanakert we had a house, a small business. We lost everything, and in Armenia we can’t “get back on our feet”. The absence of the “40+10 thousand drams” program has a strong impact on every refugee family if there is no housing. My husband suggested taking Armenian citizenship, trying to get a certificate for purchasing housing, which is provided by the Armenian government, but this will take months, and there are already problems. The rations have been greatly reduced. We are not even thinking about new clothes. In a month we don’t know what we’ll do,” Avanesyan said.

Anush Sahakyan from the Hadrut region of Nagorno-Karabakh has four children, three of whom are school-age. The family lives in Davtashen. The husband and wife work, but according to the woman, their salary is minimal.

“When social support under the “40+10 thousand drams” program was suspended, our problems worsened. Now we don’t even think about the further education of older children after school. And I so dreamed that the children would grow up and get a good education. Social problems are growing every day, every month we survive - pay for rent, utilities, eat, buy new clothes for the children, as they are growing. We couldn’t buy anything new for the new school year. We save on everything. But I really want at least the younger children to be in a new outfit, with a new backpack and uniform. But each child needs at least 30 thousand drams to prepare for September 1, and that’s if you buy the cheapest one,” the woman said.

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