UN Experts Urge Azerbaijan

A group of UN experts has expressed alarm over Azerbaijan's ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. This was reported by the Armenian Embassy in Switzerland and the Permanent Representation of Armenia to the UN in Geneva.

As a result of the blockade, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia has been cut off for the past seven months, causing the population to face a severe shortage of food, medical supplies, and hygiene products. The blockade has also disrupted the operations of medical and educational institutions, putting the lives of residents, especially children, the disabled, the elderly, pregnant women, and patients, at great risk.

“The blockade of the Lachin corridor is a humanitarian crisis that has led to a sharp reduction in food supplies, including oil, fish, poultry, dairy products, wheat, sugar, and baby food,” the experts noted. They raised concerns that medication supplies are rapidly depleting, and hospitals struggle to provide medical assistance due to fuel shortages affecting ambulances.

The experts call on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately restore unimpeded movement of people, vehicles, and cargo in both directions through the Lachin corridor, in accordance with the November 9, 2020 ceasefire agreement. They also urge the Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in the region to protect the corridor in line with the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

“By lifting the blockade, the authorities would relieve thousands of residents of Nagorno-Karabakh from suffering and allow for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population,” the experts stated. “At this critical moment, it is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals,” they emphasized.

“We urge the Azerbaijani government to adhere to its international obligations to respect and protect human rights, including the rights to food, health, education, and life. We also stress the importance of cooperation and dialogue among all parties involved in the peaceful and long-term resolution process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the experts concluded.