Damage of $276 Million Inflicted on Artsakh

During the blockade, the economy of the Republic of Artsakh suffered damage of approximately $276 million. This and other information was published today by the Artsakh Information Headquarters in a government report detailing the statistics for the 145th day of the blockade.

"Daily statistical updates report that due to the suspension of planned surgeries in all medical facilities in Artsakh, approximately 1,190 citizens have been deprived of the opportunity to address health issues through surgery, with an increase of around 15 cases over the last three days. As of today, 394 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia under the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross for appropriate treatment. However, it is impossible to move patients in a lying position since the Azerbaijani side obstructs the movement of Artsakh's ambulance vehicles, and the Red Cross lacks ambulances, using regular cars to transport patients, all of whom are seated.

Due to the blockade, around 3,900 individuals, including 570 children, have been unable to return to their homes, some of whom have already returned with the support of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers. No citizens have been able to travel freely along the Stepanakert-Goris highway, with cross-movement incidents decreasing by approximately 190 times, with the existing movement solely supported by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers (1,837 entries and exits instead of 355,250 over 145 days). Moreover, there have been no recorded exits or entries for citizens over the last three days, excluding the drivers of Russian peacekeeping cargo vehicles.

No vehicles belonging to Artsakh citizens have crossed the blocked road, and the total traffic volume has been nearly 53 times less than what it would have been without the blockade (2,507 entries and exits instead of 133,400 over 145 days, again only facilitated by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers). This means there were only 24 vehicle entries and exits recorded over the last three days.

Approximately 13 times fewer essential goods have been imported only by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers than would have normally occurred without the blockade (around 4,492 tons instead of about 58,000 tons over 145 days, with only 71 tons in the last three days).

During the blockade, Azerbaijan has completely or partially interrupted gas supply from Armenia to Artsakh for a total of 79 days, while electricity supply has been completely disrupted for 116 days. This has led to daily rolling and additional emergency outages and the closure or reduction of operations for numerous institutions.

860 economic entities (20.1% of the total) have suspended operations due to the impossibility of functioning under blockade conditions, while the remaining entities operate at partial capacity or with state support. As a result of the blockade and the disruption of critical infrastructure, since the start of the blockade, it is estimated that about 10,300 people have effectively lost their jobs and sources of income (including temporary job preservation cases with state support), which is more than 50% of private sector workers.

Construction works on 32.6 kilometers of road, dozens of kilometers of water pipeline, thousands of hectares of irrigation systems, 3,717 residences, and more than 40 social and production infrastructure have come to a halt.

The blockade has inflicted damage of approximately $276 million on the economy of the Republic of Artsakh, resulting in a projected annual GDP shortfall of about 31% (of $903 million)," the report states.