Brussels hosts charity event for Kessab Armenians

A charity awareness-raising event was held Wednesday in the Armenian House of Brussels to address the problems of Kessab Armenians.

According to a press release by Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, the event began with an opening speech by Rev. Father Zatik Avetikyan, a vicar for the Western European patriarchal delegate. The history of the Syrian-Armenians, particularly the community of Kessab, were introduced during the meeting.

The organizers managed to establish a direct contact with Avo Gidanyan, the director of the Beirut-based radio station Van, and Sevan Matchikyan, a refugee from Syria’s Armenian-populated town, to talk about the problems and needs of Kessab-Armenians. They are said to have highly praised the moral and material support offered by Armenians from around the world.

A fund-raising event was held at the end in aid to Kessab Armenians.

Kessab, a border town in Syria’s north-west, came under Islamist militants attacks on March 21, forcing most families (predominantly Armenians) to flee their homes and find shelter in the port city of Latakia.