News - US supports WFP, assistance planned to about 20,500 forcibly displaced persons in Armenia

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a grant of US$1.1 million from the United States Government, made possible through USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). This timely contribution will enable WFP to provide essential emergency food assistance to refugees residing in Armenia. With the generous support of the U.S. Government, WFP plans to reach approximately 20,500 people who have fled hostilities and are now living in the Ararat, Kotayk, and Gegharkunik regions. These regions host one of the highest numbers of refugees outside of Yerevan. “We are grateful to the U.S. Government for the support during this emergency. This donation supports our efforts to ensure the well-being of thousands of refugees residing in Armenia, providing them daily access to food,” says WFP Representative and Country Director in Armenia Nanna Skau. As part of the crisis response, WFP will provide food parcels to assist 20,000 refugees in covering their food needs over three months, contributing to improved livelihoods. Additionally, WFP will provide three hot meals each day for 500 refugees for three months totaling 135,000 hot meals. WFP will help distribute hot meals through mobile kitchens, school canteens, and arrangements for elderly residents. “While providing urgent assistance for the upcoming winter, it's important to plan the next phase of support. This involves moving beyond immediate relief to strategies that stabilize lives and promote social cohesion,” added Saku.  In addition to immediate food assistance, WFP, with this contribution, will conduct a Food Security and Vulnerability Assessment to support evidence-based decision-making and its overall response planning. The comprehensive analysis will cover all regions, with a particular focus on areas where refugees have settled. WFP is supporting the Government of Armenia through a range of initiatives, including emergency food assistance and cash-based transfers, nutritional support, and resilience-building.