Several Armenian NGOs appeal to UN Sec Council to take urgent steps  amid humanitarian crisis in Artsakh

ArmInfoSeveral Armenian non-governmental organizations appealed to the member states of the  UN Security Council with a call to take all necessary actions in  connection with the aggravation of the humanitarian crisis in  Artsakh.

In a joint appeal signed by Democracy Development Foundation;  Transparency International Anticorruption Center NGO; Public  Journalism Club NGO; Law Development and Protection Foundation;  Protection of Rights without Borders NGO; Helsinki Citizens Assembly  - Vanadzor; "For Equal Rights" NGO "Peace Dialogue" NGO", it is  noted:

"Dear Representatives of States - Members of the UN Security Council,  We appeal to the States - Members of the UN Security Council, as to  the primary mandate holder for international peace and security and  call for your urgent intervention in relation to the escalating  humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh caused by the total blockade  of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan. The Lachin Corridor is the only  lifeline that connects the local Armenian people to the Republic of  Armenia as well as to the rest of the world. The blockade aims to  create unbearable living conditions for the ethnic Armenians of the  region and push them out from their homes. In recent days the  situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has deteriorated further, with its  people now facing the imminent threat of starvation.  As you know,  since 12 December 2022, Nagorno-Karabakh people have been under siege  because of the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. On 23 April 2023, the  Azerbaijani government installed an official checkpoint on the end of  the bridge over the Hakari River that separates Armenia and  Azerbaijan. Since 15 June 2023, Azerbaijan completely banned all  kinds of humanitarian transportation in both ways blatantly violating  its obligation towards ensuring the safe and unhindered passage  through the Lachin corridor under the Trilateral Statement of 9  November 2020.

For almost 230 days under siege, the rights of indigenous Armenian  people in Nagorno-Karabakh have been systematically violated. Their  lives are endangered because of frequent ceasefire breaches by the  attacks of Azerbaijani armed forces, shootings in the direction of  civilians, houses and schools, usually preceded by aggressive  disinformation campaigns creating false narratives that Armenians are  the ones violating the ceasefire. Movement of people and vehicles  from and to Nagorno-Karabakh is completely banned with rare emergency  exceptions for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).  There is no gas, and there are rolling blackouts of electricity (for  6 hours per day). A few days ago, the operation of all the public  transportation came to a halt given the lack of fuel. There is poor  tele-communication and access to information, which contributes to  the spread of misinformation from the Azerbaijani side. Azerbaijan's  banning the international media from accessing Nagorno Karabakh  prevents any broadcasts on the situation. Most recently, the European  Federation of Journalists stated that "it was the Azerbaijani army  that prevented us from crossing, in accordance with government  orders."

People in Nagorno-Karabakh are facing a shortage of medication,  products of hygiene, clothing and access to medical services.  Only  the patients in a critical state are transferred by ICRC to the  hospitals in Armenia to get the due treatment. The number of  early-stage miscarriages has nearly tripled in the past month due to  high stress among pregnant women and inability to access a balanced  diet amid the blockade.

Farmers are neither able to cultivate their farmland due to shortage  of fuel nor feed their cattle given the frequent shootings by the  Azerbaijani military, who also damage the agricultural equipment and  steal the cattle. The Sarsang reservoir - a major source of  irrigation - has almost dried up, making it unable to compensate for  water shortages and generate more electricity necessary for the  people's survival.

ICRC's recent statement says: "The civilian population is now facing  a lack of life-saving medication and essentials like hygiene products  and baby formula. Fruits, vegetables, and bread are increasingly  scarce and costly, while some other food items such as dairy  products, sunflower oil, cereal, fish, and chicken are not available.  The last time the ICRC was allowed to bring medical items and  essential food items into the area was several weeks ago." All the  above mentioned are part of Azerbaijan's broader strategy aimed at  ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. It is important to  stress that any presence of Azerbaijani armed forces as well as  checkpoints on the Lachin corridor poses an imminent threat to the  security of the Armenians passing through the corridor either to or  from Nagorno-Karabakh given the fear of being kidnapped, murdered,  imprisoned, tortured or humiliated, as proved in the last two years.  Such fears make it practically impossible for the local indigenous  people to enjoy any safety, to exercise their fundamental rights and  freedoms, to develop in their homeland.

In December 2021, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) adopted an  order of provisional measures, stating that the Republic of  Azerbaijan must "take all necessary measures to prevent the  incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination,  including by its officials and public institutions, targeted at  persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin."In August 2022, the UN  Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)  published its findings on Azerbaijan, where it confirmed Azerbaijan's  coercive tactics and its hateful and antagonistic rhetoric towards  Armenia, and stated that the Committee is "deeply concerned about  allegations of grave human rights violations committed by the  Azerbaijani military forces against prisoners of war and other  protected persons of Armenian ethnic or national origin." 

In February 2023, ICJ adopted another order demanding that Azerbaijan  shall, in accordance with its obligations under CERD, take all  measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons,  vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.

On 23 July 2023, Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention issued a  Red Flag Alert for genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh. On July 25, ICRC  reported: "Despite persistent efforts, we are currently unable to  deliver aid via the Lachin corridor & other routes, including Aghdam.  With these convoys blocked, our concern is that the humanitarian  situation will further deteriorate."Freedom House issued a statement:  "We urge Azerbaijan to allow @ICRC to provide vital humanitarian  assistance to Nagorno Karabakh & immediately work to ensure freedom  of movement by opening the Lachin corridor, guaranteeing unrestricted  movement of individuals, vehicles & cargo." It is crucial that the  United Nations Security Council takes the responsibility to protect  the Armenian people of Nagorno-Karabakh from the ethnic cleansing as  well as from genocide, which is actually underway through the forced  starvation.  The Security Council shall particularly:

Pass a resolution that condemns the blockade and demands to urgently  open the Lachin corridor for unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles  and cargo, in line with the ICJ interim measure.

Take urgent measures to ensure international peacekeeping mandate  inside Nagorno-Karabakh and Lachin corridor to ensure the security of  the Armenian population beyond November 2025, i.e. the end of mandate  of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, prescribed in November 10,  2020 trilateral statement, until the durable settlement of the  conflict is achieved;

Request the UN Secretary General to commission a fact-finding mission  to the region to assess the situation on the ground; and to appoint  Secretary General's Special Representative on the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict to ensure longer-term presence in the region;

Request the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to deploy a  fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to assess the situation on  the ground and present a comprehensive report to the UN Security  Council; and to utilize all pertinent UN human rights mechanisms,  including Special Advisors and Special Rapporteurs, to promptly  generate reports on the human rights, humanitarian, and human  security conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Condemn Azerbaijan's policy of ethnic hatred against Armenians, which  puts at risk any efforts aimed at establishment of peace and security  in the region."