We Do Not Have a Store Here, We Were Resolving Our Food Issues from Kapan: Leader of Nerkhin Hand

Nerkhin Hand is one of the six villages in the Kapan community of Syunik, where humanitarian issues have arisen due to illegal actions by the Azerbaijani side along the Kapan-Jakaten road. Khachatur Baghdasaryan, the administrative head of Nerkhin Hand, presented the current situation in the village to ‘Pastinfo’.

For over a week, residents have been unable to maintain regular contact with the center, from where they acquired essential supplies. “The village is fine; there is no state of panic. We are traveling back and forth through an alternative route, although not fully loaded vehicles are being used. However, there is still communication with Kapan,” he noted.

Communication with Kapan is maintained via the Jakaten-Geghanush road, which has been used since the 1990s. After the renovation of this alternative road, they will reach Kapan approximately 10 minutes later than usual.

“Part of it is being diverted elsewhere; it will not be the same as before, but they are working briskly. We will see; perhaps they will finish it within a week. Indeed, winter will bring some difficulties, and I do not know what we will do,” he added.

According to the RA Human Rights Defender, Azerbaijani armed personnel are stationed near the only water source of Nerkhin Hand, which may later lead to serious water security issues. Baghdasaryan mentioned that the Azerbaijanis are not stationed close to the spring.

“They are not actually stationed there, but there is an open concern. Our positions are above; they are on the opposite hill, so they are not close. That is a natural spring from which we derive our water,” he specified.

There is no shop in the village, but not all residents are currently willing to travel to Kapan for supplies, as they are helping each other. “We do not have a store here; we were solving our food issue from Kapan. People tell what they need, and those who go bring it. I go as well, bringing back supplies. There is no problem now, but when winter comes, I do not know what the road conditions will be. At that time, there may be issues, but for the moment, everything is normal,” he shared.

Currently, there are no issues in providing medical assistance in the village, and according to the leader, there are no residents with serious medical needs. The administrative head also noted that there is no kindergarten in the village, although classes at the local school are held every day and are not remote.

“Students regularly attend school and do not miss classes. The principal could not come to work for the first two days, but now he is already coming,” Baghdasaryan remarked.

He stated that no one from the village has traveled through the Kapan-Jakaten road after the installation of the Azerbaijani checkpoint. In addition to the alternative road, according to information received by the administrative head, a new road is also being constructed parallel to the main road towards Kapan.

“From what we hear and know, the alternative road that is being constructed and improved is being worked on alongside a new road that will pass near the Azerbaijani-controlled section of the Jakaten-Kapan route, about 600-700 meters downward from that road,” Baghdasaryan concluded.