Armenia is a developing country, with low economic growth and high unemployment rate. Poverty in turn affects food security and health status of the country’s population, which makes the socio-economic situation of vulnerable community members critical. 

According to the World Bank, Poverty Rate (US$5.5/day) (2018) in Armenia is 42.5%.

In Armenia 25.7% of the population lives below the national poverty line (2017).  

Armenia has an ageing population, with 16.8% of the whole population living in Armenia being aged 60 and above, according to the National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia (National Statistical Yearbook 2017). Older people and people with disabilities are the most affected by this situation. In addition to the economic vulnerabilities, they often suffer from chronic conditions and/or physical disabilities, live on their own and have problems accessing the few healthcare services available.

As a consequence of widespread poverty, according to the recent survey results, at the same time according to the World Food Program, 15,3% of people living in Armenia are food insecure, 23.5% of people live in poverty.

In addition, the 12-month inflation in Armenia’s consumer market in April 2021 amounted to 6.2%, according to the National Statistical Committee (NSC).

Existing vulnerabilities and inequalities are also significantly magnified due to the Lebanon explosion in August 2020 and emerged war on Artsakh-Azerbaijan borders in September 2020, which resulted in new spontaneous arrivals of Armenians from the affected locations. As a result, the number of needy families in Armenia also increased․

Useful Links

1. Poverty In Armenia
2. WFP – Armenia
3. AP News

On August 4, 2020, a massive and disastrous explosion occurred in Beirut, Lebanon leaving at least 200 people dead, about 5,000 people wounded, more than 300,000 people homeless, and many more missing. The devastating blast and its consequences have resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon as warned by UN agencies. Already existing hard socio-economic conditions, worsened by the explosion, led people to displace and seek secure shelter out of the country. Relying on the non-official data about 350 persons affected by the catastrophe arrived in Armenia, the majority of which already applied to Mission Armenia for support. In Armenia, displaced families from Lebanon are struggling to cover and care for their basic needs such as food, hygiene, clothing.

To properly provide humanitarian response to the most vulnerable families identified during the needs assessment conducted by Mission Armenia, the project intends to ensure access to core relief items for 500 vulnerable families in Armenia upon their needs.