The economic integration of the population displaced from Syrian to our country is moving on with great difficulty
Over the past five years, about 20 thousand Syrian-Armenians immigrated to Armenia, who have fled from the Syrian conflict and tried to find shelter and settle in Armenia. But some of them again have taken the path of exile, seeking shelter in European countries, USA and Canada. 99% of immigrants from Syria to Armenia are ethnic Armenians, which facilitates a variety of legal and administrative procedures, in particular, the process of getting RA citizenship, and more than half of the Syrian-Armenians already living in Armenia have the RA citizenship. In this respect, the integration process of Syrian-Armenians substantially differs from the integration process of the refugees on general principles in the world. However, the economic integration of the population displaced from Syria to our country moves on with great difficulties.
This is certified by “Save the Children” organization, which published the report titled “The economic integration of the population displaced from Syria”. The authors of the report conducted a study to find out the problems that the Syrian-Armenians encounter in the socio-economic sphere that do not allow the Syrian-Armenians returned to the motherland to settle down, established business and, generally to integrate into the life of Armenia. The experts of the organization have found out that the main motive of Syrian-Armenians to dwell in Armenia is the fact of being ethnic Armenians and settling in their own country. However, Syrian-Armenians are leaving the country as they are unable to find a job, an apartment and are unable to be established as an individual. The report states, “With regard to building productive relationships with the locals, Syrian-Armenian are constrained of having no job and apartment.”
The experts of “Save the Children” have also found out that Syrian-Armenian entrepreneurs on starting a business are not aware of market changing volumes, sound financial planning, tax and customs legislation. In other words, there is no organization that will provide guidance, advice and marketing assistance to the Syrian businessmen. “The underlying cause of discontent of Syrian-Armenians is the unawareness of the laws. The unavailability and inaccessibility of the presentation of the RA laws hamper the integration process,” reads the report.
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According to the experts who have compiled the report, due to the unawareness of the laws, the Syrian-Armenian businessmen often pay administrative fines, as well as are complaining about high rates of taxes. Syrian-Armenian also expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of services offered by the government officials. With the exception of asylum seekers, medical care is inaccessible to Syrian-Armenians because of high payments. The dissatisfaction of immigrant Syrian-Armenians is mainly connected with finding no job of their specialty. “Most of the Syrian-Armenians are people who have vocational educated, who master a variety of crafts. The demand for most of them is lacking in the labor market in Armenia,” say the experts of the organization.
Referring to the problems of the children of Syrian-Armenians, the authors of the report point out that the integration and adaptation matter for 12-17-year-olds do not often get proper attention and approach. “The youth has difficulties with the language and being adapted to their environment, and so far there are no conditioned created to eliminate them.” The experts who have carried out this study recorded also the positive aspect. According to them, equal opportunities are provided for the Syrian-Armenian children – an access to education and all health services, the principals of the schools promote the integration of children, children are entitled to free educational services, and the young people receive scholarships. Several medical facilities, with their own initiative, provide additional advantages to the Syrian-Armenian for some services.
The authors of the report addressing the organizations, government agencies and experts who are trying to resolve the employment of Syrian-Armenians and the problems of business activities, recommend to pay attention to agriculture, tourism and information technology development, especially in the marzes, particularly in the context of the integration of Armenians displaced from Syria.
Lusine BUDAGHYAN,
“Aravot” daily
