A brief history and Location of the Armenian Village Havresc
Havresc is a remarkable Christian Armenian Village located north of the Iraqi, Kurdistan region
its history dates back to 1915 when survivors and the fighters of the Armenian Genocide constructed the village
Surviving through courage, faith, fortitude, and about 22 dedicated men against the massive force of the Islamic State (ISIS).
In 1970, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s military destroyed villages, which were minority strongholds, and pushed their inhabitants into cities in order to assimilate them.
Following Saddam’s death in 2006, persecuted Iraqi Armenians with family roots in Havresc decided to return to the village.
2006, many of the people of Havresc returned and decided to rebuild their homes, churches, and schools. Armenians also came from abroad and helped in the construction. Murad Vartanian, who was originally born in the village, led the effort, and with other villagers created a communal system where goods are shared. They also erected a monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
In the picture, Dr. Michael Schmitt among many others like filmmaker David Ritter has taken many trips to the region to meet and help Armenian and Assyrians during the ISIS invasion of the Area and has built a strong bond with the Armenians and Assyrians more to come on this subject.
Murad Vartanian, Mayor of the Village Havresc
Havresc is home to about 110 houses, some of which are Assyrian.
Kurdistan authorities have begun the construction of a large airport near the village of Havresc, which is expected to be the biggest airport in the northern region (construction is currently at a halt)
the black and white picture on the left is Levon Pasha Shaghoyan with the villagers
During and After the Armenian Genocide Group of 2000 young Armenian from Bitlis, Van, and other provinces organized under the leadership of Levon Pasha Shaghoyan, broke through the Turkish siege end up in Yerevan current capital of Armenia through Georgia,
They joint Armenian military fought the Ottomans in 1918 first republic of Armenia was created then 1920 some Armenians in Yerevan decided or were forced to become Bolsheviks and joined USSR, Levon Pasha like Andranik Pasha and many other Armenian heroes decided to leave, therefore Levon Pasha with 2000 Young and old Armenian fighters and refugees left Armenia to Tabriz, Iran stayed for some time then head to the south of Iraq Basra an Area called Naher al Omar about half got malaria died, the rest continue to center of Iraq Al-bakuba and had a problem with local they moved to Havresc the goal was to reorganize try to go back to Turkey to see if they can save what they left behind. however, by the way, Havresc is about 2-3 hours from Van. they did not trust the Kurds and settled down in Havresc to start building their life again and began digging 40 forty wells to get water not only for drinking but for planting trees and vegetation, they build schools, Churches, clinics, Mills, donations from United state providing farming machinery like tractors and so on. and the story goes on..
