Video: French Doctors Say They Are Both Afraid and Not Afraid Upon Arriving in Armenia

A group of doctors from France has arrived in Yerevan, thanks to the initiative of Armenian-French cardiovascular surgeon Levon Khachatryan and the support of the Armenian government. They are set to assist soldiers and civilians wounded due to the war unleashed by Azerbaijan in Artsakh. The visit of the doctors was funded by the 'Anna Carolina' and 'Shahbazyan' holdings, as reported by news.am.

"It is natural that our visit should have happened. Every Armenian has a debt to do something for their homeland in one way or another, which is what we are doing. I tried to do it in this manner. I am very grateful to my colleagues who responded to my call. Without hesitation, they came to Armenia to support our colleagues during these difficult days," Levon Khachatryan said in a conversation with reporters at Zvartnots International Airport.

The group of doctors from France has experience working in combat zones. They are visiting Armenia for a week; however, they will adapt to any changes in the situation. "Currently, the pandemic situation on the planet is such that no one knows what tomorrow will bring. For this reason, organizing this group and gathering resources and equipment already posed a challenge. We didn't think too long about what would happen next. Let's do the work now, and we will think about the future later," Khachatryan remarked.

Shelling occurs in Stepanakert and other cities in Artsakh. When asked if they could imagine the conditions under which they would be working and the scale of work ahead, the French doctors expressed a mix of fear and determination. They are aware of the magnitude of the task but recognize they are now in Armenia. "I have fear, but above all, I am a surgeon," said Dr. Patrick Knipe.

The doctors affirm that regardless of the circumstances, their duty is to be beside the wounded.