On June 20th, as the world observes the International Day of Refugees, we at Hanganak pause to recognize the most vulnerable among them – the elderly forcibly displaced from Artsakh. These grandparents and great-grandparents have endured not just the trauma of war and exile, but face the daily struggle of rebuilding their lives in their twilight years.
These elders carry with them a lifetime of memories – of their homes, their orchards, their communities in Artsakh. Today, they wake up as refugees, often without proper medical care, adequate nutrition, or the comfort of familiar surroundings. Many suffer from chronic illnesses exacerbated by displacement. Others battle loneliness and depression, grieving the loss of everything they knew.
For over a decade, Hanganak has stood with Artsakh’s elderly through war and peace. Today, our mission continues with renewed urgency. Our teams provide medical care to bedridden elders, deliver food and hygiene supplies to those in extreme poverty, and offer psychosocial support to heal invisible wounds.
But the need grows greater every day. These elders, who survived so much, now face their greatest challenge – aging as refugees far from home.
On this International Day of Refugees, we invite you to stand with Artsakh’s displaced elders. Visit hanganak.org to learn how you can support our work through donations, volunteering, or simply by sharing their stories. Together, we can ensure these treasured members of our community are not forgotten in their time of greatest need.
