At Least Eight Syrian-Armenians Have Died Due to Violence in the Last Three Months
ALEPPO, Syria (A.W.)—Sarkis Kouyumjian—a Syrian-Armenian who had suffered major head trauma during an attack on Aleppo’s Nor Kyugh district on Aug. 7—died on Aug. 12. Kouyumjian, who was being treated at the Al-Razi hospital in Aleppo, was in a coma for five days, before succumbing to his injuries, reported Armenia-based Arevelk news.
Kouyumjian had been a longtime member of Homenmen, and had served on the organization’s executive body and fanfare group in Aleppo. Kouyumjian was laid to rest on Aug. 12, at the Surp Asdvadzadzin (St. Mary) Armenian Apostolic Church of Aleppo. At least eight Syrian-Armenians have died due to violence in Aleppo in the last three months. A stray bullet killed 16-year-old Syrian-Armenian Krikor Minasian in Aleppo on the night of July 15. The Aleppo-based Armenian news outlet Kantsasar reported that celebratory gunfire in response to the attempted military coup in Turkey may have been the cause of the stray bullet. Less than a week earlier, Panos Aghazarian (b. 1994), a member of the Syrian Armed Forces, was killed in military clashes in Aleppo on July 10. Two other Syrian-Armenians—Hripsimeh Chazarian and Sosi Ghazarian-Hekimian—were also injured on July 9, according to Kantsasar.
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In June, five ethnic Armenians were killed in a week. Aleppo’s Armenian-populated Nor Kyugh and Zvartnots districts were attacked by more than 30 missiles on June 2, killing several civilians. The attack, which reportedly came from militant opposition groups, also destroyed many buildings, including homes and stores. Vazken Jabaghchourian, Levon Kelkhacherian, Hovsep Janessian, and Khatchig Aboulaboutian were among those killed in the attack.
On May 26-27, the Vergine Gulbenkian Birthing Center-Hospital, which had served as a senior citizen’s home during the war, was extensively damaged in another rocket attack that killed Maral Guligian, a center employee. Der Zareh Shakarian, Jack Hadad, and one other employee suffered minor injuries in the attack. The senior citizens of the center were consequently relocated for the third time since 2012.
