Since the start of the conflict, at least 15,000 Syrians have found refuge in Armenia, according to UNHCR figures.
The majority of these are descendants of Armenians who escaped the `mass killings` and `deportations` by the Ottoman Turks in 1915, and were given refuge in Syria.At the time, Syria`s Deir Ezzor region became a major destination for Armenians subjected to death marches through the desert. But a century later, increasing numbers of Syrian Armenians are now driving to Beirut, where they board flights to Yerevan.
But Armenia`s own economic woes mean that it struggles to provide accommodation and jobs for the newly-arrived Syrians. State assistance for Syrian Armenians covers mainly education, medical care and the provision of documents.
"We are concerned about the rental of accommodation; this is already a challenge to us. We have to turn to international and benevolent organisations for help because we will face a problem. The flow is too big, we cannot cope," Firdus Zakaryan, an official from Armenia`s Ministry of Diaspora, said recently.
Robert Matevosyan, head of the district`s resettlement department, says more Syrian Armenians are expressing an interest in settling in the area.
More about:
-1780923278.jpg&h=190&w=280&zc=1&q=100)
