Armenia Conference Concludes USAID Earthquake Recovery Program

More than 200 people participated in a conference on December 2 and 3, which focused on the successes of the USAID Earthquake Zone Recovery Program. The conference, From Recovery to Development: 2000-2005, was jointly convened by USAID, the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Urban Institute, and the American University of Armenia at the Marriott Armenia Hotel in Yerevan.

The Conference marked the successful completion of USAID's Earthquake Zone Recovery Program (EQZRP) and acknowledged USAID's assistance to the Government of Armenia in approaching closure to shelter compensation in the earthquake zone while, at the same time, fostering local economic development. USAID's implementing partner in this project is the Urban Institute, in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services and the American University of Armenia.

The $35 million EQZRP program ends in December 2004 and has been the largest single endeavor of USAID/Armenia in the Mission's twelve years of rendering humanitarian and technical assistance to Armenia.

The Conference highlighted the primary results of EQZRP. Approximately 7,000 families - about 30,000 individuals - received permanent housing with 6,270 families benefiting from Housing Purchase Certificates and more than 700 families benefiting from Housing Improvement Grants. Over 120 municipal sites have been reclaimed by the clearing of temporary shelters in five cities, more than 50 sites that were formerly occupied by temporary shelters have been redeveloped and are undergoing urban development, more than 100 public buildings and other sites - schools, kindergartens, museums, parks, and squares -- have been reclaimed and returned to the communities for use, and over 4,000 temporary shelters have been removed.

Conference participants included US Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, USAID/Armenia Director, Robin Phillips, members of the Government of Armenia and the 18 local governments partnering in the USAID Earthquake Zone Recovery Program, non-governmental and other organizations that provided services to the Program, the international donor community contributing to the development of the earthquake zone, and Program staff and partners including banks, auditors, engineers, and real estate professionals.

USAID/Armenia Director, Mr. Robin Phillips, cited the primary achievements of the Earthquake Zone Recovery Program: "Since the year 2000, well over 6,000 households have already obtained permanent housing using Housing Certificates in Gyumri, Akhuryan, Vanadzor, Gugark, Spitak, Stepanavan, Maralik, Amasia, Jajur Station and Aparan. And 664 families in nine communities in Shirak and Lori Marzes also have benefited by the Housing Improvement Grant Program." Mr. Phillips continued, "The Program's 'Planning for Redevelopment' component focuses on leveraging capital infusion through housing certificates and housing improvement grants to promote restoration of the urban fabric of the communities and to foster local economic development, in particular in Gyumri and Spitak, which have undergone the most visible transformations."