Damage to the Economy of Artsakh During the Blockade

The statistical data for the 236th day of the blockade has been published in a report by the government of Artsakh. Due to the suspension of planned surgeries at all healthcare facilities in Artsakh, approximately 1,745 citizens have been deprived of the opportunity to resolve health issues through surgery, with an increase of about 15 cases in the last three days.

To date, a total of 669 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, with an additional 70 transferred with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers for appropriate medical treatment. Due to additional obstacles raised by Azerbaijan regarding the ICRC's operations, transfers had been suspended for almost a month in May. They resumed intermittently and were significantly hampered until they were entirely halted on July 30 due to the abduction of patient Vagif Khachatryan, who was being transferred by the ICRC.

As a result of the blockade, approximately 3,900 individuals, including 550 children, have been unable to return to their homes. Some of them have returned home with the help of the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers. No citizen has been able to travel freely along the Stepanakert-Goris highway (Lachin corridor), and the number of cross-border movements has decreased by around 220 times, with the only movements being facilitated by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers (a total of 2,628 entries and exits instead of 578,200 during the 236 days). Notably, no movements were recorded in the last three days.

No vehicles belonging to Artsakh citizens have crossed the blocked road, and the total vehicular movement has been nearly 74 times less than it would have been without the blockade (2,941 entries and exits instead of 217,120 during 236 days, also only facilitated by the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers). This indicates that there have been no vehicle entries or exits in the last three days.

Approximately 17 times less vital goods have been imported, solely through the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers, than would have been the case without the blockade (5,715 tons instead of about 94,400 tons during 236 days, with 0 tons in the last three days).

During the blockade, Azerbaijan has completely or partially disrupted gas supply from Armenia to Artsakh for a total of 169 days, while electricity supply has been fully interrupted for 207 days. This has led to daily outages and numerous closures or reductions in the functioning of various establishments. Since the blockade began, 1,468 business entities (34.3% of the total) have suspended operations due to the impossibility of functioning under blockade conditions.

As a result of the blockade and the interruption of vital infrastructure, it is estimated that about 17,000 people have lost their jobs and sources of income since the start of the blockade (including cases of temporary job preservation with government support). This figure has been rising rapidly in recent times. All sectors of the economy have been affected either fully or partially by the blockade.

Construction works on 32.6 kilometers of roads, dozens of kilometers of water supply lines, thousands of hectares of irrigation systems, 3,717 residences, and over 40 social and industrial infrastructure projects have ceased. According to the report, the damage to the economy of the Republic of Artsakh during the blockade amounts to approximately $448 million, leading to the failure to secure nearly 50% of the projected annual GDP (estimated at $903 million).