21:04, 22 February 2023
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch has published an article depicting the humanitarian crisis created in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan.
ARMENPRESS reports, the publication reminds that from December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan blocked the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world, as a result of which the Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh found themselves in a difficult situation.
40-year-old Armine, who lives with her family in Nagorno-Karabakh, told Human Rights Watch that her husband lost his job as a taxi driver due to lack of fuel, and now she is the sole breadwinner of the family. And the 12- and 14-year-old children only recently returned to school when the school was heated with wood stoves. However, some schools remain closed due to lack of heating. Food is becoming scarcer, not affordable as prices have skyrocketed. Armine said that she waited two hours even in cold weather to buy eggs.
Armine plans her day around power outages. During the few hours when there is electricity, she has to cook and do housework, heat the children's room and help them with their homework.
Human Rights Watch emphasized that Armine's story is not an exception. The blockade of the Lachin Corridor has disrupted access to essential goods and services for thousands of Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh. Many remained in Armenia and cannot return to their homes.
It is noted that the authorities of Azerbaijan deny that they are responsible for the closure of the road, but support the rallies.
The disruption of the Lachin Corridor is creating a humanitarian crisis as many needs remain unmet. The publication of Human Rights Watch presents the difficult situation with a concrete example. Armine's father is sick with cancer and has to travel regularly from the village to Stepanakert, but due to lack of fuel and transport, he missed his last medical visits.
"Azerbaijani authorities and Russian peacekeeping forces must ensure that the protests do not deprive Armine and other residents of Nagorno-Karabakh of their rights, including access to healthcare, basic services and goods, as well as the right to free movement," the publication emphasizes.