October 2, 2023
News
On the afternoon of 19 September 2023, Azerbaijani armed forces launched a military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh to take control of the region. The offensive forced the local Armenian population to flee to Armenia. According to the UN, the number of Armenians who have fled Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia has exceeded 100 000. Our partner Caritas Armenia is providing the basic necessities of life to the displaced people.
Providing food, hygiene supplies and other necessities
Before the operation by Azerbaijani forces, an estimated 120 000 people lived in Nagorno-Karabakh. The offensive took the lives of nearly 600 people. In addition, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh faced hunger, malnutrition and lack of vital necessities during the ten-month blockade of the Lachin Corridor.
Within days, the vast majority of Nagorno-Karabakh's population was forcibly displaced from the region. In addition, long convoys of moving cars and people left many stranded on the road. Many of the displaced people, including children, elderly people, people with disabilities and pregnant women, were on the road for more than 48 hours.
"Our partner organisation Caritas Armenia is helping the displaced people on the ground. They are distributing food, hygiene items and money vouchers as well as cash so that people can provide for their basic needs," says Lenka Pipková, Manager of Foreign Communication at Caritas Czech Republic.
Caritas Armenia also provides psychosocial support to people who have had to leave their homes in a matter of moments. Caritas Armenia will help the displaced residents to ensure dignified living conditions in a temporary shelter.
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, and up to 120 000 ethnic Armenians lived in the region before the Azerbaijani offensive. Azerbaijan's military operation to take control of the area led to the displacement of more than 100 000 Nagorno-Karabakh residents. After almost 30 years, the UN has sent a UN mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to address the humanitarian situation on the ground.
The territory of Nagorno-Karabakh is linked to Armenia by the Lachin corridor, which has been blocked by Azerbaijan for the last ten months, leading to food and other basic needs being scarce in Nagorno-Karabakh.
