Armenia Floods May 2024: Post Disaster Needs Assessment

On May 25 2024, Armenia's northern Lori and Tavush regions were hit by a catastrophic flood event caused by relentless rains. Between May 25 and 26, heavy rainfall led to the overflow of the Debed, Aghstev, and Tashir rivers, which severely impacted these areas. The floods caused substantial damage and resulted in four fatalities. Many affected families were evacuated to ensure their safety.

At the request of the Government of Armenia, a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) of the floods in the Lori and Tavush regions was conducted with the involvement of relevant ministries and international support from the United Nations and the European Union. The assessment employed the internationally recognized PDNA methodology, globally endorsed by the UN, EU, and WB. The process was coordinated by the UNDP.

The assessment evaluates the damage to physical assets, the indirect impact on economic activities, additional expenses incurred due to the floods, and quantifies the prioritization of needs for reconstruction and recovery in the affected areas. It also takes into consideration the social and economic needs of the affected communities. Damage and loss estimates were provided for infrastructure and assets across nine affected consolidated communities in Lori and Tavush regions, namely Alaverdi, Dilijan, Gyulagarak, Ijevan, Noyemberyan, Pambak, Stepanavan, Tashir and Tumanyan. The PDNA team gathered data through on-ground investigations, crowdsourcing, and the analysis of satellite images.