Refugee children forcibly displaced from Artsakh and hosted in Armenia show signs of acute psychological stress. This is documented by social workers working with UNICEF, who are providing special support to children and their families who have left their homes in recent weeks.

Social workers working in two UNICEF safe corners in Goris, which serve up to 300 children a day, have reported feelings of anxiety, fear and anger, manifested in nightmares, bedwetting and inconsolable crying. Some children find themselves isolated from everyone, becoming uncommunicative, unable to express their feelings or understand what has happened.

“More than 30,000 Armenian children have sought refuge in Armenia since military operations began in their communities two weeks ago. In addition to displacement, these children continually missed classes and lived in unsafe and unsafe environments and, as families reported, in constant fear of further attacks. “We now see how much these children have suffered. The displacement and hostilities, coupled with deprivation, have seriously affected their physical and mental health, as well as their psychological well-being. The children will suffer the consequences of these indescribably sad events for years if they do not receive continued support,” said Christine Weigand, the UNICEF representative in Armenia.

UNICEF is appealing for $12.6 million over the next six months to provide essential services including education, child protection, health, nutrition and sanitation.