Karagheusian Foundation Steps Up to Aid Artsakh Refugees
New York, NY — The Karagheusian Foundation Board of Directors has unanimously committed an initial allocation of $1 million to the Howard Karagheusian Medical Benevolent Public Organization ( HKMBPO) for emergency relief, announced Harry S. Cherken, Jr., Chair.
The funds will provide immediate assistance and medium-term solutions for the incoming Armenian refugees from Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh). These funds are in addition to the Karagheusian annual donation for pediatric dentistry, social and ophthalmic services, and children’s hearing aid assistance, in Armenia. Founded in 1992, the HKMBPO operates four centers in Armenia located in Yerevan (Nork), Gyumri, Goris and Vandazor.
The catastrophic exodus of the Artsakh population from these ancestral lands is yet again another mass resettlement for the Armenian nation. Deprived of the bare needs of survival, refugees have begun to arrive at the plaza in Goris where the HKMBPO and others are coming forward to assist displaced residents of Artsakh with food, water, personal hygiene necessities and baby supplies. Distribution of consumables in the form of family parcels of essentials at the Goris refugee registration center is ongoing during the arrival of the population. The HKMBPO offices in Goris have also been converted into temporary housing for families in transit.
“The need is great, and the situation is dire,” said a staff member of the HKMBPO Goris operations. “In addition to beginning to distribute life’s necessities to these refugees,” she continued, “we accommodated families in our center temporarily and distributed 700 food boxes as of Saturday (Sept. 30th). We will continue as crowds come in. Then we will enact our short- and long-term assistance plan.”
“We are closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation on the ground,” commented Karagheusian Foundation managing director Irina Lazarian. “We are preparing to make swift adjustments to channel the aid where it’s needed the most.” Ms. Lazarian noted that the Foundation has extensive experience in crisis management over its 102 year history, including the assistance it has given to the Armenian populations that resettled in France, Greece, the Middle East and elsewhere following the Armenian Genocide.
With other Armenian NGOs, the Karagheusian Foundation will also seek solutions for the immediate lodging needs and will procure appropriate clothing for the upcoming winter.
Original source: Karagheusian Foundation Steps Up to Aid Artsakh Refugees
The Howard Karagheusian Commemorative Corporation (Karagheusian Foundation) is a charitable organization founded in New York City in 1921. It provides funds to the HKMBPO for Armenians in need.
Contact – info@thkcc.org
“Howard Karagheusian” MBPO was founded in Yerevan (Armenia) in 1992, with the support of the Karagheusian Foundation (New York, USA). “Howard Karagheusian” MBPO implements medical and social programs in Armenia and Artsakh. The mission is to provide children with free high-quality medical and social welfare services, thus contributing to their happy integrated society.
