Disclaimer
This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC
member countries.
The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views of theADRC. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on themaps in the report also do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by theADRC.

REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

1. General Information
Official name

Republic of Armenia (RA), briefly - Armenia

Name in official language

Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, briefly - Hayastana tricolor with horizontal lines of red, navy and orange evenly
distributed from top to bottom. Red symbolizes Armenian
Highlands, Armenians’ incessant struggle for survival, ChristianNational flag

faith, liberty and independence. Navy symbolizes the aspirationof the Armenian nation to live under the peaceful sky. Orange
symbolizes the talent for creative work and diligence of theArmenian people.

Head of the State

President

Legislative power

one-chamber National Assembly

Official language

Armenian (is part of Indo-European family of languages)

Capital

YerevanAdministrative and territorial unit

Marz (11 Marzes in all including Yerevan city)

National currency

Dram (international currency code - AMD)1.1. Geographical information
Territory

29.74 thousand square km (is comparable with the territory ofBelgium or Albania)
north- Georgia
south- IranNeighbouring countries

east- Azerbaijan
south-west- Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan)
west- Turkey

Average elevation above sea level1800 mThe highest peak

Aragats mountain - 4090 m

The lowest altitude

Debed river canyon - 380 m

The greatest extent

365 kmTime zone

Greenwich mean time + 4 hours

1.2 Climate information
Regionnorth latitudes of subtropics

Climatedry, continental

Average temperature

in January - -6.8°C, in July - +20.8°C

Humansettlement

HeightPrecipitation

Daily(mm)mean °C

Average

Minimum

MaximumDays

Hu-snow

snow

snow

ofmidity

depth

depth

depth

snow

%

Bagratashen

453

444

11,7————

72

Idjevan

732

563

10,6

10

28

1

38

73

Vanadzor

1350

586

7,4

17

38

372

71

Stepanavan

1397

683

6,6

19

53

4

73

73

Tashir

1507

713

5,8

17

37

272

75

Spitak

1552

439

7,1

12

56

263

69

Chambarak

1861

557

4,8

16

375

102

74

Meghri

627

259

13,8

5

2702161

Kapan

705

544

11,5103223471

Artashat

829

235

11,1

10

44

03965

Armavir

861

244

11,3

10

42

045

60

Erevan

942

316

11,4

12

46

04460

Eghvard

1317

407

9,828

68

074

62

Areni

1009

357

11,8

14——

40

56

Eghegnadzor

1267

398

10,8

18—

—

50

66

Sisian

1580

365

6,6

12

34

373

68

Gumri

1556

477

5,82661

49670

Talin

1582

435

7,9

24

64

282

59

Artik

1750

516

5,8

2251

595

66

Fontan

1798

640

6,050

79

1312466

Aparan

1291

651

4,356

92

10125

69

Sevan

1936

556

4,036

83

313674Mets Mazra

1940

390

4,2

21

35

7109

69

Martuni

1995

457

5.6

26

75

298

67

Yankh

2334

488

2,764

102

33

160

72

Pakhakn

2004

574

1,853

81

17138

74

3329

1065-2,7166

235

66

252

73

(Shurabad)
Aragats(mount)1.3. Demographic data
Population
Ethnic breakdown

Religion

3.2 Million, population of the capital - 1.1 Million
Armenians (98%), Russians, Yezidis, Kurds, Assyrians, Greeks,
Ukrainians, Jews and representatives of other nationalities
Christianity (Armenian Apostolic Church), professed by the vast
majority of the population1.4. Historical Information
IV-III thousand years
B.C.
782 B.C.
VI-V centuries B.C.

origin of forearmenian tribal unions on the territory of the Armenian Plateau
establishment of Yerevan city
completion of the Armenian people's ethnic forming on the Armenian
Plateau territory and development of the Armenian language

189 B.C.

formation of independent Armenian state

301 A.D.

official acceptance by Armenia of Christianity as a state religion

405 A.D.

creation by Mesrop Mashtots of the Armenian Alphabet - the basis of written
language

428 A.D.

partition of Armenia between Rome and Persia

VII century

Armenia is in the power of Arabs

884 A.D.
1080-1375
1639

liberation of the northwestern part of Armenia and recovery of Armenian
State system
Armenian State system established in Kilikia (Mediterranean area)
partition of Armenia between Turkey (Western Armenia) and Persia (EasternArmenia)

1828

Eastern Armenia joins Russia

1915

deportation and genocide of Armenians in Western Armenia

1918

Armenian State system recovery in Eastern Armenia-Declaration of theRepublic of Armenia

1920

establishment of the Soviet rule in Armenia

1922-1991

Armenia is a part of the USSR

1991

collapse of the USSR and declaration of Independence of the Republic ofArmenia

1991

Armenia is a founding member of the Commonwealth of Independent States

1992

Armenia is a member of the U.N.O.

1999

signing of partnership agreement between Armenia and the European Union

2001

Armenia is a full member of the Council of Europe

2002

Armenia enters into the World Trade Organization (WTO)2. Natural Hazards
2-1. Natural Hazards Likely to affect the country
Armenia is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world (except the sea disasters), but In
Armenia the earthquake disaster is the most harmful for people and property.
Armenia is located in a region where seismic activities are active.

Earthquakes

94%

Mudslides

3,15%Transport accidents

1,5%

Landslides and rockfalls

1.2%

Floods0.15%

Irradiation0%2-2. Recent Major Disaster

December 7, 1988 at 7.41.22.7 GMT (11.41.22.7 local time). The
epicenter by the records of seismographs has the following
coordinates: latitude 40.92°N, longitude 44.23°E. The depth of thehypocenter, measured by various methods and means, varies from
2.5km to 10-15km. It is natural as the earthquake source as a spatial.
The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.0. The intensity at theepicenter was 10 value on MSK-64 intensity scale.
The earthquake hit 40 % of the territory of Armenia, densely
populated region with 1 ml people. The affected area, where theintensity of the earthquake was > 8, involved 30002 km area. 21towns and 342 villages were destructed, 514.000 people were left
without shelter, 20.000 people were injured and 12500 people were（1988）

hospitalized. Number of victims was about 25.000. Particularly in

Destructive Earthquake

more than anywhere else. 17% funds of dwellings were destroyed,

SpitakGyumri (15.000-17.000) and in Spitak (4000) number of victims was
the work of 170 industrial companies were halted, the great losses
were caused to villages and agro industrial complexes as well as tothe architectural, historical and cultural monuments, 917 publicbuildings were destroyed.
The rescue activities were systemized only two or three days later.
From the first second the earthquake strike, the population carried out
restless rescuing works. Anyhow the absence of their experience andsometimes the lack of basic knowledge on actions in emergency
caused real difficulties for the efficiency of rescue operations. Even
there were cases when the public unawareness brought to life losses.
Also there was a need of rescue equipment. With the efforts of
population and the rescuers 45.000 dead or alive people werebrought out from the rubble and 12.5000 people were hospitalized.

3. Disaster Management System
3-1. Administrative System

Chair Person: President(Oversee the observance of the Constitution, shall ensure the natural functioning of legislative,executive and judicial powers.)
Vice Chairman: Prime minister(Oversee the Government's regular activities and coordinate the work of the Ministers)
Government of RA（Executive power is vested in the Government of the Republic of Armenia）
Territorial Administration

Finance(RA Vice Prime Minister)Emergency Situations

Foreign Affairs

CultureHealthcare

DefenseJustice

Diaspora

Labor and Social Affairs

EconomyNature Protection

Education and Science

Sport and Youth Affairs

Agriculture
Transport and Communication
Energy and Natural Resources
Agencies by Government of RA
National Security Service
State Committee on Immovable Property
Cadastre
State Revenue CommitteeState Property Management Department
General Department of Civil Aviation
RA Police3-2. Legal System and Framework
Armenia is prone to natural disasters. Eight out of every 10 persons face the probability ofexperiencing a natural disaster such as an earthquake, landslide or flooding. But thanks to recent
efforts of the Government, Armenia has shifted from reactive relief to proactive risk reduction.
Seismic Protection activities are regulated by a number of laws and legislative acts and national
programs of the Republic of Armenia:

Law of Republic of Armenia
The Law of the Republic of Armenia on Seismic Protection

2002

Resolutions of Government
The Complex Program of Seismic Risk Reduction in the Territory of Armenia

1999

The complex program of seismic risk reduction in Yerevan city

1999

The Resolution of the Government of RA on establishment of the list of criticalimportant and general facilities in the field of seismic protection

2003

Regulation“National Survey for Seismic Protection” Agency

2008

3-3. Structure of the Disaster Management
Armenia is located within a zone particularly prone to earthquakes and other natural disasters likelandslides and floods frequently occurring on a small scale. Ministry of Emergency Situations of theRepublic of Armenia created by presidential decree in 2008. It is a republican body of executive
authority, which in line with such competences as are vested in it by laws and other legal acts,develops, implements and coordinates RA government’s policy in the area of civil defense andprotection of the population in emergency situations.

Ministry of Emergency Situations of RARescue

National Survey for

Hydro-National

AtmosphericState Of

Service

Seismic Protection

meteorology

TechnicalPhenomena

Emergency(NSSP)andSafetyIn ActiveCrisis(takes variousMonitoringCenterServiceManagementmeasures forState Service

ImpactAcademyearthquake disastermanagement)Since the day of its foundation the Armenian NSSP made close links with international organizations
well known in the field of seismic hazard and seismic risk assessment and reduction, giving
importance to the experience of these organizations and aiming to adjust it to local conditions.
Scientific and technical relations of the Armenian NSSP:Institution/Organization
US Geological Survey
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, France
International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, IranGeoforscungsZentrum-Postdam, Germany
Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Japan Meteorological Agency
Institute for the Physics of the Earth RAS
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Seismic Monitoring Center of Georgia
Asian Risk Reduction Center
Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, Istanbul, Turkey
University of Athens, Greece
Japan International Cooperation Agency
Republican Center of Seismological Survey at the National Academy of Sciencesof Azerbaijan
National Institute of Geophysics, Rome, Italy
Kazakhstan National Data Center, Institute of Geophysical Researchand other institutions working in the field of seismic risk assessment and seismic risk reduction.

4. Disaster Management Strategy, Policy, and Plan
Natural and technological hazards threatening Armenia urge the need of development andstrengthening of DRR system in Armenia. This process implies involvement of all the potential of thecountry, which can be achieved through elaboration of Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform(DRR NP). DRR system is a framework of functions and processes with the aim to reduce
population’s vulnerability to disaster risks. It is aimed at prevention or reduction of negative impactsof hazards and contributes to sustainable development of the society. Fund for DRR NP wasestablished in 2010. The Head of the Board is Minister of Emergency Situations. The goal of theDRR NP is to establish a multi-spectral mechanism with involvement of all stakeholders.
MES of RA has established a Crisis Management Center as the main body for planning, cocoordinating and implementing measures related to natural and other forms of disasters(complementary to a National Platform on Disaster developed in cooperation with UNDP).
The main goal of "Seismic Risk Assessment and Risk Management Planning Project" is to reduce
vulnerability to large-scale earthquakes in the capital city of Yerevan, where a third of the country's
population is concentrated, by providing assistance in preparing risk management plans which cover
all viewpoints surrounding disaster management cycle from prevention, emergency response torecovery/reconstruction. This project was started from August 2010 with the cooperation of the MESof RA.

5. Progress of the implementation of Hyogo Framework for action (HFA)
Armenia is at high risk of natural and technological hazards, owing to high levels of exposure andvulnerability.
There are many issues and concerns in the country, which increase the vulnerability and exposureof the Armenian population to the above mentioned hazards. These include:
1. Need of a Comprehensive approach to Disaster Risk Reduction.
2. Absence of DRR strategy.
3. Imperfection of DRR legislative field.
4. Lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities of DRR stakeholders.
5. Poor coordination among various stakeholders in DRR sector.
6. Insufficient level of cooperation in DRR sector.
7. Agency interests are a priority.
8. Insufficient level of knowledge and education in DRR sector.
9. Imperfection of awareness raising process.
10. Inefficient use of resources.
11. Insufficient level of analytical capacities.
12. Absence of DRR common methodology.
13. Imperfection of monitoring system in DRR.
14. Lack of comprehensive understanding of DRR in the development perspective.
15. Need of multi-stakeholder partnership on DRR.
The national platform states that DRR implies joined actions by the Government, state bodies,communities, civil society, scientific organizations, private sector, as well as the mass media.

DRR NP in Armenia is a structure elaborated and administered by the country with the involvementof stakeholders. It aims to promote DRR implementation at all levels, coordinate, analyze andconsult in main sectors which require joined, participatory and coordinated actions.

Together with the UNDP, MES of RA developed a national disaster risk reduction strategy based on
the Hyogo Framework of Action, a 10-year, UN-backed plan to make the world safer from naturalhazards. The strategy will promote the further institutionalization and sustainability of the DRR
system in Armenia.

6. Recent Major Projects on Disaster Risk Reduction
6.1.The Real Time Seismic Intensity Display System (Joint MES of RA- Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) project)
Based on Japanese earthquake experiences, JICA has been supporting Armenian earthquake
disaster prevention through "Seismic Risk Assessment and Risk Management Planning Project" byutilizing Japanese technology.
One of the project goals is to formulate a system for citizens to use their own self-discretion to act
properly in case of emergency. Real Time Information System on Seismic Intensity was installed atthe Risk Management Center of the MES of RA which aims to promote disaster prevention actionsof the citizens through publicity of disaster information and to raise public awareness towards
disaster prevention. The demonstration of the system was made in the presence of the Minster ofEmergency Situations and project counterparts. Based on a lesson from the Great East Japan
Earthquake on the importance of citizens' capability for proper evacuation actions based on theirown decision, the project also focuses on awareness raising activities for citizens.
The following plans will be completed by October 2012:
1. Formulation of Earthquake Disaster Management Plan for Yerevan City
2. Formulation of Evacuation Plan based on Earthquake Disaster Management Plan for YerevanCity
3. Formulation of Business Continuity Plan for MES RA.

6.2. Strengthening of National Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction Capacities - II phase(Joint MES of RA- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia project)
The project second phase is a continuation of the implementation plan contained in the Programme
Framework for Strengthening of National Disaster Management Capacities, developed jointly by
UNDP and Armenian Government in 2007. The project provides support in strengthening of legal
and institutional framework for disaster risk management in Armenia, including development ofcomprehensive disaster risk reduction national strategy. Risk identification and assessment as wellas its reduction measures and further monitoring are considered as four major dimensions for thenational strategy formation. The project is aimed at strengthening of legal and institutional frameworkfor disaster risk management in Armenia, including development of national disaster risk reduction
strategy and enhancement of risk identification, assessment and monitoring system in Armenia.
Project activities include: National risk assessment and establishment of national data observatoryfor disaster statistics; strengthening of legal and institutional framework and inter-agency
coordination for disaster management in Armenia.
Expected Results
Disaster Risk Reduction project implementation will contribute to strengthening of DRR capacities ofthe country and more systematized coordination and management of the disaster management
system having a functional National Platform and DRR strategy as a basis for sustainable
development of the country. The project will continue to pay special attention to gender sensitive
issues in DRR.
“National Survey for Seismic Protection” Agency
Ministry of Emergency Situations
Republic of Armenia.
Davidashen-Massiv 4, 0054,
109/8, A.Mikoyan str., Yerevan, RA,
Fax: +37410 363449,
Phone: +37410 317739,
E-mail: hrachya.petrosyan@mes.am5. References:
http://www.spyur.am/en/armenia
http://www.gov.am/en/structure/
http://president.am
http://maps.unomaha.edu/peterson/funda/MapLinks/Armenia/Armenia.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Armenia

http://armneianpages.com
http://www.nssp-gov.am/
http://www.jica.go.jp/english/news/press/2012/120605.html
http:/undp.org
http://www.adrc.asia/countryreport/ARM/2010/ARMENIA_CR2010B.pdf
http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/progress/reports/index.php?o=pol_year&o2=DESC&ps=50&hid=0&cid=8&x=1&y=4

3 September 2012