NK Crisis: In autumn 2023, Armenia experienced a massive influx of individuals following the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict starting on 19 September. According to the Government of Armenia, over 100.000 people arrived in Armenia at the end of September 2023 to seek support for the settlement in their new home. Those displaced to Armenia have left behind their homes, valuables, livelihoods, essentially most of what constituted their material possessions.
RENEW Project: The RENEW project is being carried out by the Armenian Red Cross Society with the support of the Austrian Red Cross. It is funded by the European Union through its Humanitarian Aid Operations and is running from December 2023-April 2025. The RENEW project aims to improve the living conditions of people displaced from NK and focuses on improved psychosocial well-being, cash and voucher-assistance and employment support and income generation.
A mix of different measures will allow the displaced population of NK to recover from the trauma they have suffered:
Group Counselling: Group counselling sessions offer displaced individuals a supportive environment where they can gather and connect. Led by trained psychologists, these sessions provide a space for sharing experiences, expressing emotions, and receiving support from peers. Topics discussed are, for example, “Psychological consequences of armed conflicts”, “Coping Strategies and dealing with stress”, or “How to talk to children about war and displacement.
Individual Counselling: In case of a greater need for support, individual counselling sessions are offered. Usually, one or two individual counselling sessions take place, if a person has a greater need, more sessions can be offered.
Case Story Narek (a 5-year-old boy, displaced from NK : Leaving NK to Armenia was very stressful for Narek. He used to cry a lot and was asking to go back home. He could not sleep alone at night, nor stay alone in a room in the daytime, because of his fears. He frequently woke up at night and asked for water several times . His mother noted that after 6-7 individual sessions, big changes took place in Narek’s behavior and well-being. He began to sleep peacefully at night, even alone in a separate room. He also became calm, and his headaches disappeared gradually.
Community Counsellors:
Six community counsellors, who are all trained psychologists are supporting displaced people through group and individual counselling sessions.
Lilit Qardumyan (Community Counselor, Psychologist):
“For forcibly displaced people from NK, the biggest loss is often their belief in the future. Through both group and individual sessions, one of the crucial, motivating, empowering outcomes is the revival of people’s trust, faith in the future, a sense of certainty and stability.”
