“This is my way of fighting and surviving”: A refugee family rebuilds life after Artsakh

YEREVAN — Two years after being forcibly displaced from Artsakh, tens of thousands of Armenians remain in limbo, struggling to rebuild their lives in a country ill-prepared to receive them. In September 2023, Azerbaijan’s military offensive and nearly 10-month blockade emptied Artsakh of its historic Armenian population, forcing more than 120,000 people to abandon their homes, communities and livelihoods in a matter of days.

Most arrived in Armenia with little more than what they could carry. While many families initially found shelter through state rent support and local solidarity, that fragile safety net has eroded. As of October 2025, over 15,800 displaced Armenians have already left Armenia, driven out once again by dwindling resources and cuts to housing subsidies.