Due to Restrictions, ICRC Unable to Organize Transfer of 102 Patients: Artsakh Ministry of Health

On June 15, due to an Azerbaijani provocation near the Hakari bridge at the Armenia-Artsakh border, the illegal Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor has blocked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from organizing the bilateral movement of patients from Artsakh, along with all humanitarian transfers. As a result, it has been impossible to facilitate the planned transfer of 102 individuals over these past two days (52 from Artsakh to Armenia, 50 from Armenia to Artsakh).

This was stated on the Facebook page of the Artsakh Ministry of Health. “As we have already reported, yesterday morning the ICRC vehicles were transporting 25 patients and their relatives to Armenia; however, the Azerbaijani side at the illegal checkpoint in the Kashatagh corridor prohibited their further movement, causing the vehicles to return to Stepanakert. At the same time, it was not possible to organize the return of another 25 patients and their relatives from Goris to Stepanakert,” the statement read.

“Today, there was also a plan to transfer 27 patients and their relatives to specialized medical centers in Armenia for urgent medical assistance, as well as the return of 25 patients and their relatives back to Artsakh. Under these conditions of interruption of all humanitarian cargo transfers, the supply of medicines and other medical supplies to Artsakh, which was carried out exclusively by the ICRC, has naturally come to a complete halt. Consequently, the already limited supplies available in healthcare institutions are being reduced daily, putting citizens' proper medical service at further risk,” the post continued.