The People of Artsakh Face a Humanitarian Catastrophe: Ombudsman on Azerbaijan's Use of Explosives

The people of Artsakh are facing a humanitarian catastrophe as Azerbaijan employs banned types of weapons that could endanger the lives and health of the civilian population, especially children, for many years. This statement was made during a press conference by the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, Artak Beglaryan.

“We stand before a humanitarian disaster. In Stepanakert and other settlements, there are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of unexploded ordnance that can pose a danger to the civilian population and particularly to children for many years,” said Beglaryan.

He emphasized this point, recalling that he himself was injured at the age of six due to an explosion from an Azerbaijani mine after the war, resulting in the loss of his vision. “Hundreds of children like me have lost their lives or suffered injuries. While not only children have been affected, there have been numerous cases among them,” Beglaryan noted.

According to the Ombudsman of Artsakh, Azerbaijani armed forces intentionally use banned weapons in densely populated areas to create a humanitarian disaster for the civilian population. “In this regard, there must be a proper response and punishment. The international community has a significant role to play in halting and preventing this humanitarian disaster as soon as possible, particularly in clearing these weapons and explosives,” said Beglaryan.