Due to presence across the region, in our role of a neutral intermediary we addressed the pressing humanitarian needs occurred in relation to the situation along the Lachin corridor since December 2022.

We continued facilitating resilience-building programs in communities situated along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We cooperated closely and worked in complementarity with the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) supporting its activities as well as joined efforts in response to the needs of civilians affected by the escalations.

We continued working with the families of people unaccounted for following the escalations of hostilities, logged hundreds of tracing requests and assessed the needs of a number of families whose loved ones went missing during the escalation in autumn 2020. In addition, we provided technical and material support to relevant authorities in Armenia, including forensic expertise, to facilitate the issue of dignified management of human remains and clarification of fate of people missing in connection with conflict or other emergencies.

Across the region, the ICRC kept visiting those detained in connection with the conflict escalations in 2020 and 2021, whose detention had been confirmed by the respective authorities. During the visits, we assessed treatment of the detainees and conditions of their detention as well as facilitated the exchange of news with their families. With the consent of the authorities, the family contact was maintained by means of Red Cross messages, phone calls, oral greetings and pre-recorded video messages. This is always an important emotional lifeline for the detainees and their loved ones, and often the proof for families that their detained relatives are alive.