The Ongoing Blockade of Artsakh is a Large-Scale Attack on the People of Artsakh: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh

The blockade of the Republic of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, lasting for a month, is the largest scale attack on the people of Artsakh since the 44-day war in 2020, as stated in a declaration by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh.

The Ministry has called on states acting both individually and within international organizations to take all necessary measures in line with their universal commitment to upholding human rights and preventing the crime of genocide to immediately prevent the genocidal actions that Azerbaijan is systematically implementing against the people of Artsakh in an atmosphere of total impunity.

On the occasion of the one-month blockade, State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan, and members of the government and parliament presented the humanitarian crisis and escalating risks resulting from the blockade to representatives of local, Armenian, and international media.

Participants in the video bridge called on the entire Armenian community and the civilized world to utilize all available tools for resolving the situation.

The government's report includes statistical data for the day: 11 children are in the neonatal and intensive care units of the children's hospital, and 8 adult patients are in intensive care, 3 of whom are in critical condition. A total of 123 children have been born during the blockade.

Due to the suspension of planned surgeries in all medical facilities operating under the Ministry of Health, around 390 citizens have been deprived of the opportunity to undergo surgery due to health issues.

As of today, 19 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia under the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross for appropriate treatment.

16.4% of businesses have suspended their operations due to the impossibility of working under blockade conditions. Due to the complicated economic situation, at least 3,400 people have initially lost their jobs and sources of income.

More than 12,800 tons of essential goods would have been supplied to Artsakh if not for the blockade, during which only a negligible amount has been delivered by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeeping forces.

The 120,000 residents of Artsakh (including about 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly, and 9,000 persons with disabilities) are facing numerous deprivations and are also at risk of starvation.

Due to the escalating food shortage under the blockade, 41 kindergartens, 56 preschool groups, and 20 extended educational institutions have closed. 6,828 children can no longer attend kindergarten, preschool, and extended school, deprived of the opportunity to receive proper care, food, and education.

Since the start of the blockade, many countries and international organizations have condemned Azerbaijan's actions and called for an end to the blockade. The issue has also been discussed in the UN Security Council, and the European Court of Human Rights has obliged Azerbaijan to take all necessary and sufficient measures to end the blockade. The matter will soon be addressed in the International Court of Justice in The Hague in the context of the proceedings of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.