Finland sent material assistance to Armenia

Because of the escalating conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, more than 100,000 Armenians have fled the region towards Armenia. Armenia has therefore requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This includes, among other things, necessities such as food packages, clothing and hygiene supplies.

-    The request for assistance includes necessities for young children aged 0 to 4, starting from beds, clothes and diapers. We deliver maternity packs and ready-made meals to meet the request for assistance, says Heikki Honkanen, Senior Coordinator from the Ministry of the Interior.

The Ministry of the Interior is preparing the transport of assistance in cooperation with Austria. The National Emergency Supply Agency is responsible for transporting the material to Austria, and the material will be delivered to Armenia by air transport organised by Austria. The aid package has already left Finland and will arrive in Armenia next week. 

-    In addition to Finland and Austria, more than a dozen European countries have been ready to provide assistance to Armenia. To maximise the available transport capacity, it is sensible to coordinate transport between the assisting countries. We thank our Austrian colleagues and the National Emergency Supply Agency for their support, says Pauliina Eskola, Director of International Affairs from the Ministry of the Interior. 

Assistance provided through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism

Any country can request assistance via the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism if it faces a crisis that it cannot handle alone. These crises can be natural or human-induced disasters, such as major accidents, technological, chemical and environmental accidents or terrorist acts. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), operating under the European Commission, coordinates requests for assistance.

Assistance provided through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is based on the national resources of the EU Member States. The assistance may take the form of specialised rescue teams or expert and material assistance. The Ministry of the Interior decides on the provision of international assistance in the field of rescue services. 

Inquiries: 
Senior Coordinator Heikki Honkanen, tel. +358 295 488 565, firstname.lastname@gov.fi