Yerevan, ARMENIA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a $1 million contribution from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance to provide cash assistance to help hungry, displaced people in Armenia cover their food needs until the end of June.

The cash transfers support the most vulnerable people and boost the local economy at the same time. By enabling people to purchase food from local markets, cash will help to strengthen and promote the local markets, also making direct positive impacts on the local economy.

The donation will complement the national efforts undertaken by the Government of Armenia through its national social program to support food insecure people who have been affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

A recent U.N. World Food Programme Food Security Assessment shows the food security levels of people have been negatively affected by the conflict. This cash assistance will help many people across the country to avoid negative coping mechanisms such as, eating less or borrowing money to buy food. The displaced populations will be able to cover their immediate food needs and have access to a nutritious diet.

“Globally, USAID is the biggest donor to the U.N. World Food Programme and supports food security all over the world. It is an honor for us to expand our partnership in Armenia within this humanitarian assistance,” said U.N. World Food Programme Representative and Country Director in Armenia Jelena Milesovic. “We highly appreciate this generous contribution from USAID, which will help us reach more people and enable them to buy their basic food needs from local markets.”

The U.N. World Food Programme has developed a designated feedback mechanism for people benefiting from its assistance in Armenia, allowing them to communicate directly, effectively and safely with the U.N. World Food Programme. By calling the helpline at 096-120-400, or emailing armenia.BFM@wfp.org, people can send feedback, requests or complaints related to the cash assistance. This allows the U.N. World Food Programme to adapt and adjust its response as necessary, determine increased needs and gaps, and resolve concerns.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

ARMENIA:

Unequal & Vulnerable

Armenia has gone through a profound transformation since its independence. But progress has left the most vulnerable groups behind. WFP is on the ground helping make sure they get the food and nutrition they need.

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Armenia is a landlocked country that’s highly vulnerable to external shocks.
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total population

15.3%

of people are food insecure

26.4%

of people live in poverty

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Let’s end the hunger

Armenia is an upper-middle income, landlocked, net food-importer country, which has gone through a profound transformation since its independence in 1991. But gains from economic progress and structural reforms over the past two decades have not benefited the population equally, leaving smallholder farmers and women behind in particular.

According to the latest National Statistical Service data, the poverty rate reached 27% in 2020, while WFP’s nationwide assessments conducted in April 2021 point to 21.4% of households being food insecure.

One in four people still live below the poverty line, and levels of food insecurity can reach up to 24 percent in the rural northern regions. With the identification and deployment of new drivers of growth, Armenia holds high potential to lay the foundations for sustainable and equitable development.

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WFP’s Work in Armenia

In Armenia, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) supports the government and partners in their efforts to eradicate food insecurity and malnutrition, and to implement the government of Armenia’s development agenda.

Food and Cash Transfers

In 2020, our programs reached 130,802 Armenians. 1,873 MT of food was distributed and over $600,000 transferred through our cash-based assistance programs.

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Emergency Relief

For the first time in three decades, we provided food assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by the pandemic – and later by the conflict in the adjoining region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

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School Meals

Today, the U.N World Food Programme is providing hot meals to schoolchildren and conducting assessments of Armenia’s social protection system – making sure kids stay nourished.

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What’s Happening in Armenia?

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Photo: WFP USAID Helps WFP Support Displaced People in Armenia

June 2021

WFP welcomes a $1 million contribution from USAID to provide cash assistance to help hungry, displaced people in Armenia cover their food needs until the end of June.

Learn more +