Artsakh urged Putin, Biden and Macron to make Azerbaijan open Lachin corridor
YEREVAN, January 5. /ARKA/. In a statement issued today Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) National Assembly Speaker Artur Tovmasyan calls on the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries - Vladimir Putin (Russia), Joe Biden (USA), and Emmanuel Macron (France) to take concrete action to make Azerbaijan open the only road linking Artsakh and Armenia or launch an air bridge between Artsakh and Armenia to prevent an alarming humanitarian crisis in Artsakh evolving during the winter.
The road has been blocked by Azerbaijanis since December 12. Azerbaijanis pose as “environment activists” raising the alarm about “eco-terrorism” in Karabakh caused by ‘illegal’ operation of local mines.
In the meantime, 120,000 people in Nagorno-Karabakh are on the verge of a humanitarian crisis, including 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly people and about 9,000 people with disabilities.
Some 1,100 people, including 270 children and 350 people with disabilities and health issues, cannot return to their families from Armenia. One person died due to the impossibility of transportation to Armenia, a 4-month seriously ill baby and 10 adult patients were transported to Armenia by the ICRC, 10 thousand tons of humanitarian cargo were transported from Armenia to Armenia through the ICRC and 18 people (including 8 children) need medical assistance in Armenia.
Stocks of food, medicine and fuel are running out. Shops receive goods only from government funds.
"The people of Artsakh, who are facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, not only need targeted statements but also, I think, efficient and obvious steps in this direction," Tovmasyan stressed.
He reminds that the patients with serious health problems are deprived of necessary medicines and medical services because of the blockade, deliveries of baby food, food and other essential things to Artsakh are stopped.
Earlier Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan said Stepanakert airport was ready to receive medium-sized planes saying launching the air humanitarian corridor is the only solution that could dramatically change the current situation. -0-
