06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

According to Norwegian Refugee Council, 8,399 IDPs in the country ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20222]

"The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) found in a study released in 2005 that 8,399 IDPs lived in the country. The NRC said the number did not change during the year.
During the country's war with Azerbaijan, the government evacuated approximately 65 thousand households from the border region, but most returned or settled elsewhere. Of the 8,399 remaining IDPs, almost two-thirds could not return to their villages, which were surrounded by Azerbaijani territory, and others chose not to return due to socio-economic vulnerability or a fear of land mines. IDPs enjoyed full rights as citizens, but the government did not provide special programs to help them adjust to their new surroundings. IDPs had access to international assistance programs and there were no reports of abuse of IDPs."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

According to Norwegian Refugee Council, 8,399 IDPs in the country ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46111],  [ID 17100]

"In September the Norwegian Refugee Council reported that 8,399 internally displaced persons (IDPs) lived in the country. During the country's war with Azerbaijan, the government evacuated approximately 65 thousand households from the border region, but most returned or settled elsewhere. Of the 8,399 remaining IDPs, almost two-thirds could not return to their villages, which are surrounded by Azeri territory, and others chose not to return due to socio-economic vulnerability and a fear of landmines. IDPs enjoyed full rights as citizens, but the government did not provide special programs to help them adjust to their new surroundings. IDPs had access to international assistance programs and there were no reports of abuse of IDPs."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Most people evacuated during war wit Azerbaijan returned or settled elsewhere; 2 thirds of 4,077 remaining IDPs could not return to their villages ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29491],  [ID 3438]

"During the country’s war with Azerbaijan, the Government evacuated as many as 65,000 persons from the border region, but most returned or settled elsewhere. Of the 4,077 remaining IDPs, almost two-thirds could not return to their villages, which are surrounded by Azeri territory. Others chose not to return because of a collapse of industry near the border and a fear or landmines. IDPs enjoyed full rights as citizens, but the Government has not created any special programs to help them adjust to their new surroundings. There were no reports of abuse of IDPs."

Document(s): Open document

20.10.2003 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Report focussed on internal displacement as a major concern in the OSCE area/ 3 million people who were forced to leave their homes as a result of armed conflict or human rights violations still wait for durable solutions to their plight ("Protecting internally displaced persons in the OSCE area: A neglected commitment") [#17054],  [ID 3439]

Document(s): Open document

03.06.2003 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Report on internal displacement (background, causes, patterns), physical security, freedom of movement, subsistence needs (health, nutrition and shelter), patterns of return/resettlement and humanitarian access ("Profile of internal displacement:Armenia") [#13514],  [ID 3440]

Document(s): Open document

29.05.2003 - Source: US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

IDPs in Armenia received less attention from the government and the international community than refugee-like population from Azerbaijan ("World Refugee Survey 2003") [#12983],  [ID 3441]

"Internal Displacement Although the Armenian govern-
ment estimates that about 72,000 persons are internally dis-
placed because of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh--
which is located in Azerbaijan, but controlled by Armenia--
USCR believes that number to be closer to 50,000. Most are
Armenian farmers and villagers uprooted from regions bor-
dering Azerbaijan. A smaller, unknown number are ethnic
Armenians from Azerbaijan who initially settled inside Ar-
menia and then became uprooted again when the conflict
spilled into the border regions.
Virtually all of the displaced come from districts
bordering Azerbaijan, including Tavoush, Sjounik, Vajots
Dzor, Ararat, and Gegharkounik. Since Armenia and
Azerbaijan signed a cease-fire agreement in 1994, at least
28,000 have returned to their homes and an undetermined
number have moved out of the country entirely.
Estimates of the size of this displaced population
vary, in part because the population is dispersed through-
out the country.
In addition, this internally displaced population in
Armenia has received less attention from the government
and the international community than either the refugee-
like population from Azerbaijan (about 256,000) or the
100,000 or so who remain displaced from a major earth-
quake in 1988. (USCR does not count victims of natural
disasters in its tally of internally displaced persons.)
The government's ability to assist the displaced is
limited, but the Department for Migration and Refugees
(DMR) helped some 39,000 internally displaced persons
return to the border region and assisted those who had al-
ready returned. Recognizing that not all displaced people
are enrolled in this return program, USCR estimated the
number of internally displaced persons in Armenia to be
about 50,000. No new internal displacement occurred dur-
ing the year."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

28.11.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

The social conditions for refugees and IDPs are worse than those for the general population; equalaccess to health care ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3442]

"In general terms, the social conditions for refugees and IDPs are, of course, worse than
those for the general population. Most of the refugees are unemployed and many of
those 800,000 people, including a considerable number of refugees, who have
meanwhile left the country left because they could not get any work. Yet, the
unemployment rate would even be higher if those people had not had the opportunity to
go somewhere else. [...] Still, housing continues to constitute a serious problem for many refugees. According to
the government 13,500 refugees are in need of permanent shelter. Out of these 13,500,
8,000 are mainly living in so-called communal centers such as former student
dormitories and containers. Those living in containers often do not have access to
running water or electricity. The remaining 5,500 are living with their relatives, family
members or renting houses. Still, the government considers them as in need of
permanent shelter. From UNHCR’s perspective, the actual figures are probably lower.
This concerns both populations, those who are living in communal centers as well as
those who are living with their relatives and friends. Yet, in general, statistics in Armenia
Country Report – Armenia
are unreliable and often controversial, whether it concerns the Armenian population,
refugees or IDPs. So that is why it is important to quote the government figures bearing
in mind that their credibility needs to be ascertained.
As mentioned above, in terms of humanitarian assistance, the emergency phase is over.
As a consequence, refugees and the displaced population as such do no longer receive
extra humanitarian assistance and many international organisations and NGOs pull out
from humanitarian assistance and focus increasingly on long-term development
programs. In addition, refugees are included in the nationwide welfare system, PAROS,
that distributes cash payments to vulnerable families. PAROS is based on an index
containing a set of criteria, such as number of family members, female-headed
household, etc. that, however, does not recognise displacement as one of the elements
contributing to the vulnerability and eligibility for social assistance of a given family.
Concerning health care, in principle, IDPs and refugee families in Armenia have equal
access to health facilities. This basically means that for them it is as bad as for everyone,
i.e. they have to pay for medicines and treatment and often bribe medical staff. In other
words, in theory they have access, but in reality they may not receive the treatment
that they would need. There are also some free-of-charge health care programs run by
NGOs that cater to the refugee population, especially in rural areas, and include even
visits to isolated villages."

Document(s): Arm-cois2002-rep.pdf

28.11.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

According to the Armenian government 72,000 people are internally displaced ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3443]

"Furthermore, the government claims that there are 72,000 IDPs, so-called conflictinduced
IDPs. Quite interestingly, the starting point was a visit by the Representative of
the UN Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons, Francis M. Deng, that
prompted the Armenian government to elevate the existence of conflict-induced IDPs to
a more visible position a decade after their displacement. Certainly, there are people
who were displaced mainly because of fighting along the border with Azerbaijan (mainly
in the Tavush region) at the beginning of the armed conflict. However, as it has been
almost ten years since the conflict started, there remains considerable doubt about the
number itself.
The 72,000 who had to leave this region are considered to have come mostly from
Armenian border areas. In addition, the figure also includes those who came from the
Armenian exclave of Artsvashen. During the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
Artsvashen, administratively under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Armenia, came
under Azerbaijani control in August 1992 and Armenian residents of the enclave fled to
Armenia.
Finally, it is important to bear in mind that in 1988 Armenia suffered a huge earthquake
in the Northwestern region of Spitak. Homes as well as the social and economic
infrastructure were destroyed on a massive scale and even today there are a large
number of people who are displaced and homeless and do not have employment."

Document(s): Arm-cois2002-rep.pdf

10.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

IDPs lack humanitarian assistance ("Analysen und Hintergründe ") [#10328],  [ID 3444]

"In einem Bericht der Vereinten Nationen vom 6. November 2000 über die IDPs in Armenien
heisst es: "Das Schicksal der vom (armenisch-aserbeidschanischen; T.H.) Konflikt betroffenen
Binnenflüchtlinge hat weder auf nationaler, noch internationaler Ebene besondere Aufmerksamkeit
gefunden. Das Problem der Binnenflucht sowie die Bedürfnisse der Binnenflüchtlinge
sind nicht ins Bewusstsein gerückt. Nur wenige Hilfsprogramme sind auf ihre
Situation zugeschnitten. Denn erstens konzentrierte sich die humanitäre Hilfe auf die Erdbebenopfer
sowie auf die 340.000 Flüchtlinge des Konflikts. Zweitens wurde davon ausgegangen,
dass die Nöte der Binnenflüchtlinge von allgemeinen Programmen für verwundbare
Gruppen und die Armutserleichterung gedeckt würden (...)."23 Ein von der für IDPs zuständigen
armenischen Regierungsbehörde (Abteilung für Migration und Flüchtlinge) im Jahr
2000 entwickeltes spezielles Hilfsprogramm soll die Binnenflüchtlinge in ihre Herkunftsorte
zurückführen und integrieren. Ob es von der Regierung inzwischen genehmigt wurde bzw.
umgesetzt wird, war bei Redaktionsschluss unklar. Vor einer Rückführung müssen aber
auch praktische Probleme bewältigt werden: Viele Herkunftsorte der IDPs besitzen keine
Kanalisation und nicht einmal Trinkwasser. Wegen der grenznahen Lage sind viele Herkunftsorte
und ihre Anbauflächen vermint. Hier soll ein im März 2002 bei Etschmiadsin mit
Mitteln des Pentagon und des U.S. State Department eröffnetes Ausbildungszentrum helfen,
wo zehn US-amerikanische Fachausbilder ab Sommer 2002 Entminungslehrgänge durchführen
werden.
Die armenische Flüchtlingsbehörde schätzte, dass 75 Prozent der IDPs in Notunterkünften
und 18 Prozent bei Verwandten oder Freunden leben. Eine ungeklärte Anzahl von IDPs hat
inzwischen Armenien verlassen."

Document(s): Open document

04.09.2002 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Report on internal displacement (background, causes, patterns), physical security, freedom of movement, subsistence needs (health, nutrition and shelter), patterns of return/resettlement and humanitarian access ("Profile of internal displacement: Armenia") [#8658],  [ID 3445]

Document(s): Open document

04.06.2002 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

A large proportion of so-called communal centres are in a disastrous state and need urgent repair and rehabilitation ("Situation of refugees and displaced persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia [Doc. 9480]") [#7836],  [ID 3446]

"27. According to government statistics, there are 192 000 internally displaced persons in Armenia. This figure covers displacement due to a variety of causes. Firstly, an estimated 72 000 persons were displaced as a result of military operations in areas bordering Azerbaijan due to the conflict regarding Nagorno-Karabakh. Though a 1994 ceasefire has basically been effective, the conflict remains without a political solution and there have been recurrent skirmishes and instances of shelling in border areas. Secondly, an estimated 100 000 persons continue to be displaced as a result of a devastating earthquake of 1988 which resulted in the death of over 25 000 people and rendered some 500 000 persons homeless. Thirdly, the remainder of the internally displaced (around 20 000) have been uprooted as a result of more recent natural disasters.
[...]
31. According to government estimates, more than 40% of the housing in the border regions have been ruined during the armed conflict with Azerbaijan. Only a small number of houses have been reconstructed usually by the returnees. The local authorities had provided some reconstruction assistance in 1994 immediately after the introduction of the ceasefire when some people began to return, and especially to women heads of household. In the border areas, about 75% of the persons displaced as a result of the conflict live in pasture huts or other temporary dwellings.

32. Similarly, infrastructure and irrigation systems have suffered heavy destruction in these areas. The military actions have ruined 60% of the roads and a large part of administrative buildings, 50% of water supply and irrigation system.

33. The situation of refugees and displaced persons in Armenia differs from that in Azerbaijan and Georgia. There are no camps or other large concentrations of internally displaced persons who instead have largely been taken in by relatives or friends or settled in small groups in temporary accommodation. At present about 60% of refugees and displaced people live in so-called communal centres, others are housed with relatives and host families.

34. A large proportion of so-called communal centres are in a disastrous state and need urgent repair and rehabilitation. Some of those visited by the Rapporteur were almost inhabitable with appalling sanitation conditions."

Document(s): Open document