17:22, 5 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Inter Milan’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan has called for immediate action in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Over 30’000 children and their families in Nagorno Karabakh have now endured 8 months of blockade and devastation,” the former Armenian national football team captain said in a statement on Facebook. “Stranded in their homeland, they are at a brink of famine and humanitarian catastrophe with no access to life-saving medicine, food or other essential supplies. The heart-breaking reality of people starving to death is catastrophe that demands immediate action. Children need an end to this war to begin to heal and recover.Principled and unimpeded humanitarian access should be ensured across the Lachin corridor. #StopArtsakhBlockade #OpenLachinCorridor,” Mkhitaryan added.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno-Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.

On July 25, the Government of Armenia said that it will try to send over 360 tons of flour, cooking oil, sugar, and other foodstuffs and medication to Nagorno-Karabakh to mitigate the humanitarian crisis resulting from the blockade of Lachin Corridor. Armenia requested the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh to escort the aid but Azerbaijan has blocked the convoy at the entrance of the Lachin Corridor.