The general coordinator of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Yerevan warned this Thursday of “a humanitarian catastrophe” in Armenia as winter approaches. Franking Frías describes a scenario of great fragility and long hours of travel for those seeking to escape the neighboring enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“There are those who spend 20 hours on the road, but we have cases of those who traveled for 32 hours. But before leaving Nagorno-Karabakh they were already fighting against the lack of food and water,” highlights Franking Frías, in statements to TSF.
Almost half of the population of the region, in the Caucasus, has fled to Armenia since Azerbaijan’s offensive in recent days. In addition to the lack of supplies for the thousands of refugees, the general coordinator warns of the lack of sufficient treatment for the sick.
“Diseases like hypertension and asthma cannot go untreated for a long time and many no longer do so,” he laments, highlighting that in addition to physical illnesses, there are psychological consequences.
“We will support mental health, but more needs will appear and will be covered,” he guarantees.
Despite the difficulties, Franking Frias assures that humanitarian organizations are working with the Armenian Government to guarantee shelter to all those seeking refuge.
“They are taking people to hotels, schools and other buildings, not only in the Syunik region, but in other places, and we know that the Government facilitates these movements,” he explains.
Nagorno-Karabakh has just over 140,000 inhabitants, almost half of whom have already left. “Official figures published this morning point to 68,000, but we know that more people are arriving in Armenia, so this number is very likely to increase.”
With winter approaching, MSF speaks of “a humanitarian crisis” and emphasizes that it is necessary to guarantee support to these populations for a long period of time.
“This is a humanitarian crisis. These are people who are looking for a new life and who will need support in many aspects, not only in health, but in the long term, it will surely be necessary to help them even more,” he stated. highlights.
The majority of refugees are women, children and the elderly who leave in search of a less uncertain future.
The separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh announced this Thursday that it will dissolve and that the unrecognized republic will cease to exist on January 1, 2024.
This announcement comes after Azerbaijan carried out a military offensive to regain full control of the separatist region and demanded that Armenian troops in Nagorno-Karabakh lay down their arms and the separatist government be dismantled.
Nagorno-Karabakh came under the control of forces of Armenian origin, supported by the Yerevan army, following fighting that continued after the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s and 1994.
During a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan recaptured parts of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as surrounding territory that Armenian forces had claimed during the previous conflict.
Source: TSF
