By Vahakn Keshishian

Amidst the tumult in Syria, particularly Aleppo, a number of Armenian organizations are working to meet the daily basic needs of hundreds of needy Armenians.

Alongside the activities of the Central Council, a sort of coordinating umbrella structure, the AGBU is also carrying out charitable work.

Families in need come to the office and fill out a detailed questionnaire in order to receive assistance. The care package they are given includes sugar, wheat, oil and canned meat – about $35 worth of goods.

In these troubled times, I was encouraged to see the flurry of work being carried out by members and administration of the AGBU and the Armenian Youth Association. The young scouts were loading cars full of provisions for delivery to needy families.

I asked those responsible if they would be continuing their work if the situation on the ground got worse.

-       The AGBU will always be ready to assist our compatriots, was the answer.

-       What about assisting Arabs?

-       If they ask for our help, yes.

Today, there are hundreds of families in Aleppo receiving such help and the number can easily double. Other organizations are assisting a similar number of families.

Many are in need because they no longer work. Others are not getting paid.

One week later, the number of people receiving aid from the Central Assistance Council had surpassed 900. Add this to the 700 receiving assistance from the AGBU and one can get a picture of the worsening situation.

Assistance is also being provided by the Armenian Catholic benevolent committee and that of the Armenian Protestant community.

It should be noted that the funds collected by the Central Committee were earmarked to be spent in case the situation reached emergency proportions. That’s to say if a portion of Armenians were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in Armenian schools, churches and clubs.

In reality, the funds invested by Armenian organizations is a drop in the bucket - -some 500-600,000.

The Central Committee confesses that it is inexperienced in such matters…