We Cannot Transport Cancer Patients to Stepanakert at This Time: Haterk Community Head

The humanitarian crisis in besieged Artsakh is deepening every hour without exaggeration. A cancer patient from the village of Haterk in the Martakert region cannot be transported to the hospital in Stepanakert due to a lack of fuel.

“We cannot get patients to Stepanakert. There used to be at least some transport working, people could go, but now that is gone too. Throughout the day, many people inquire about this issue; people call and cry saying they need to go to the hospital, but I cannot help in any way... They are desperate people again... I really want to help, but how can I assist when there are no options available?” said Haterk Community Head Vardan Grigoryan to "Factinfo".

Pregnant women are also in serious danger as they cannot go for mandatory check-ups. “A miscarriage occurred a few days ago. A pregnant woman was supposed to go for regular check-ups but couldn’t because there were no opportunities, and she miscarried... Now so many are approaching us... Well, it’s a large village; we have 2000 residents, and every day several people call with different problems, but what can I do? What is in my power to do?” Grigoryan added.

Due to the lack of fuel, the health issues of residents have worsened to the point that food concerns have taken a backseat. The village head states, “The food issue is still being solved somehow, but there are urgent problems that require immediate solutions.” In Haterk, as in other villages of Artsakh, they are also unable to harvest the wheat due to a lack of fuel. “There is neither fuel nor road... The mudslides have destroyed the roads, and the combine cannot enter the fields. Today we managed to fix it so that it could enter somehow. There are problems everywhere; I don’t know...”

So far, villagers have managed to harvest only 40-50 hectares of wheat. Collecting the little bit of harvest available under the conditions of a full blockade is now crucial for Artsakh’s survival.