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Armenian-Australian Community Leaders Meet UNHCR Australia CEO
Tuesday, 07 November 2023
SYDNEY: Representatives from the Armenian-Australian community have visited the Headquarters of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Australia, and met with Australia for UNHCR Chief Executive Officer Trudi Mitchell to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, Michael Kolokossian and Chairperson of the Armenian Relief Society of Australia, Nora Grigorian, participated in the meeting and expressed the community’s appreciation for the support provided by the Australian office to raise awareness and funds to assist the Armenians forced to flee their homeland in Nagorno Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijani aggression.
Specifically, the UN Refugee Agency in Australia has launched a fundraising initiative complementing the $500,000 aid package provided by the Australian Government, announced by Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, following Azerbaijan's 24-hour military assault against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) forcing the civilian population to flee.
During the meeting, the delegation of Armenian-Australian community leaders highlighted the work of the Armenian Relief Society, encouraging the UNHCR to further expand its ties with the organisation and the ARS volunteers in Armenia working to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
ANC-AU Executive Director Michael Kolokossian said, “The Armenian Relief Society has always answered the calls of suffering Armenians, whether in Armenia or the diaspora, and today their volunteers are in Goris and across Armenia doing unspeakable work.”
“It is important for organisations to be working together during such challenging periods, and we are hopeful to see an increase in the collaborative efforts of the UNHCR and ARS. The ARS-AU and ANC-AU are determined to assist in further deepening the ties between the two bodies.”
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