23 years after quake 6700 families face housing problem, says activist

Twenty-three years after the 1988 devastating earthquake in Armenia’s Shirak province an estimated 6700 families are still facing a housing problem, Vahan Tumasyan, Head of the Shirak Centre non-governmental organization has said.

Speaking to Tert.am, Tumasyan said only 3500 families out of those 6700 are registered in a waiting list to get state-sponsored housing.

“Aid has not been adequate,” said he. “It has often been given to wrong addressees.”

Tumasyan also said that the state usually assists to cover only 30% of the total needs.

“If the resources were used effectively, then we would not have homeless people now,” said he, adding the around 15-18% of the population in city of Gyumri – second hardly hit area after the city of Spitak – are living in temporary cottages.

The 6.9 magnitude quake in 1988 mainly hit the Armenian cities of Spitak and Gyumri and their surrounding regions, killing more than 25,000 people and leaving thousands homeless.

Vahan Tumasyan further said that the authorities swept away the temporary cottages from the centre of Gyumri in an attempt to hide the problem of homeless people and to keep them away from guests who visit the city.

“Unfortunately, by hiding problems you are not solving them,” Tumasyan said, adding that since 2008 it has been forbidden to add more people to the list of those citizens who are waiting for the state-built houses.

As a result, more than 300 homeless families have not been registered and have no hope that they will ever receive housing.

“We are suggesting continuing the registration of the homeless; to first of all give housing to those who currently live in Gyumri, rather than those who are residing abroad but are among the first ones in the list,” said Tumasyan.

He said that they suggest the relevant authorities to give the territories where the cottages are located to their owners otherwise the people are afraid that they may be drawn out of those areas, while the territories may be put on sale.