YEREVAN. – In 2014, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia helped fifty children stay with their biological families, and did not let them to end up in orphanages.

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Artem Asatryan, noted the abovementioned at Friday’s National Assembly debates on the execution of the 2014 State Budget.

Asatryan added that the ministry, together with the benefactors of an NGO, is conducting preparatory work to keep children under the care of their parents.

“[A total of] 720 children are under the care of six orphanages of the ministry, 490 [children] of which—[are] in specialized orphanages,” the minister said.

Artem Asatryan added that in 2014, a total of 259 applications were received to adopt a child, and 46 of these applications were approved.