The war broke down our ground… a story of one family

Haygan Baharyan was under 18 when she came from Alleppo to Yerevan with her mother and brother. It was October of 2012 that her mother Ms. Lusin Baharyan Mkhmeljyan led her children to Armenia to continue their education here in safe conditions. A month later, Ms. Lusin should return to Aleppo – to her husband – but she failed to return.

It was very difficult to go to school and come back, it was very dangerous, and as rockets were everywhere, I used to worry until my children returned home. I came here with my two children in order to return to my husband later, but then I failed to return because of Yerevan-Aleppo airport, – says  Lusin Baharyan Mkhmeljyan. When it became clear that it was impossible to return to Aleppo Ms. Lusin started working at the kitchen of “Zatar Pizaa”. Traditionally in Syrian families, a woman has not worked and a man has usually earned money, women were involved only in household chores and social activities. In case of Baharyan’s family the husband’s contribution was enough to ensure well-being of the family. “I have never worked during whole my life; I just served to my relief cross gratuitously without any money. When we came here we needed work, – says Lusin.

Lusin Baharyan works at “Zatar Pizza” with love. She says that she prepares everything, as she would do for her family. Shortly after, however, Lusin Baharyan crashed in a car accident and she underwent healing therapy for more than three months. Only after the accident when Syrian family appeared in more dire and desperate situation, Lusin Baharyan’s husband could come to Armenia through Turkey. Finally, Baharyan’s family reunited.

Baharyans were living a comfortable life in Allepo. Lusin Baharyan’s husband had a business of repairing cars. At the beginning of Syrian war, the situation was tense at the place where their business was located. The family lost their business. As a result of the car accident Lusin Baharyan had injuries and after the operation she continued terapy in home conditions for 6 months, then she began walking with the help of crutches. The injury deprived Lusin of working opportunity. At present her daughter and son are working. Young Hatgan serves dishes with a smile on her face. She says that in the beginning it was very difficult to adapt to a new life, the desire to return to Aleppo was great.

“Up to one year we could not adapt, then we persuaded ourselves to work, otherwise we could not live. Now it is very good here for us, very safe. The girl remembers that when they were taking final exams, sound of rockets were heard and the fear was in their hearts, as they did not know what would be next. Fathers and mothers would wait in school in order to be together if something happened, and we would hear a rocket felling during our examinations”.

Like thousands of Armenians Baharyan’s family left everything in Aleppo because of war. “My house was bombed, two my neighbors died. Now my house is destroyed. We had everything in our house. They sent me photos… now everything is destroyed.  It was very hard to see it, but the most important thing is here we are safe, my children are safe”.

Families recently returning to Armenia tell that day by day the situation becomes more critical in their hometown. In addition, Syrian-Armenian families have to start everything from scratch. Now Lusin Baharyan’s main concern is to have a roof of their own in Armenia.

“It is very difficult to buy a house here, the state should provide it. The location of the house is not important, the most crucial thing is to get rid of rent, and thus, we can live somehow”, – she says.

Many Syrian-Armenians keen to Europe because of socio-economic conditions of Armenia. In case of opportunity, they leave for Germany, Switzerland, and Netherlands. However, Lusin says that they loved Armenia and have no intention to leave it.

“Of course this is our homeland and we should come here to live and protect our country but unfortunately, it is very difficult to live here, as the life is expensive and salaries – low.

                           Marianna Ghahramanyan