YEREVAN – The “Help Your Brother” campaign launched on September 18 comtimues assistance programs to Syrian-Armenians and has switched its operation to distribution of cash instead of sending assistance directly to Syria.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-led initiative is also concentrating its efforts on assistance programs to Syrian Armenians who have sought refuge in Armenia and Artsakh.
“We faced a number of problems with the delivery of humanitarian aid through filights. For example, because of the military attacks it is simply impossible to transport the humanitarian aid to Armenian-populated regions other than Aleppo. Therefore, now we simply transfer money to Syrian Armenians,” Parliament member Vahan Hovannesian told reporters Wednesday.
The “Help Your Brother” campaign has already transferred 5 million drams to 22 Syrian Armenian families based in Kashatagh (Lachin, Artsakh). They are preparing New Year gift packages for about 300 Syrian Armenian children.
“The activity of the ‘Help your Brother’ initiative showed that the idea of lending a helping hand to Syrian Armenians has no political, geographic and ideological limits,” president of the campaign Lilit Galstian said.
“Different benefactors, individuals and organizations have donated 41 million drams, 750,000 rubles, as well as food and basic necessities at an estimated work of 31 million drams,” she added.
Galstian and Hovannesian expressed gratitude to all organizations and individuals, who have responded to their call.
Hovannesian called on people to be extra generous during the holiday season, pledging that the campaign would continue until the end of the Syrian conflict. He said, however, there is no end in sight for the conflict.