Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as “Artsakh,” was home to 120,000 people, most of whom were ethnic Armenians. Artsakh functioned as a de-facto breakaway Armenian state yet was long claimed by Azerbaijan. The territory dispute escalated quickly in mid-September when Azerbaijan invaded the land, displacing 120,000 ethnic Armenians. Limited access to food, water and electricity has created a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Lachin Blockade

Prior to the invasion, Nagorno-Karabakh slowly plunged into poverty and insecurity with dramatically lowering human rights standards. In December 2022, Azerbaijani protestors blockaded the Lachin corridor, the only connecting road between Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia. This effectively ceased any movement by Artsakh’s residents. Both nations set up checkpoints at their borders.

As a result, food and medical supply deliveries were nearly halted. The main food markets in the villages within Nagorno-Karabakh were closed. Some locals did not see fresh produce like fruits and vegetables for months. Armenian authorities began rationing supplies.

Access to medical supplies in the region was also significantly restricted. People could not access necessary supplies for infant care, like diapers. The Red Cross brought medicine and necessities such as baby formula across the corridor, but this was only a short-term solution. Armenian authorities in Artsakh became so desperate, that they asked for an airbridge to bring supplies to the region.

The blockade of the Lachin corridor undoubtedly lowered the quality of life of Armenians residing in the area. The hospitals within Stepanakert and the other villages in the area ran out of supplies. Children had to be treated with medication meant for adults. Grocery store aisles were empty. Gas and electricity were only sporadically available. Prices for mundane goods skyrocketed.

The low quality of life in Artsakh due to the lack of access to basic necessities made it increasingly difficult for Armenians residing in the area to carry out their daily lives.

Artsakh’s Progressive Isolation

While the blockade stopped supply lines, Russian peacekeepers set up opposing checkpoints. They barred entry to any who attempted to access the region, even for humanitarian purposes. In one instance, they stopped a man attempting to bring toys to Artsakh from Armenia.

The U.S. Department of State condemned Azerbaijan for Artsakh’s progressive isolation. Azerbaijan entirely cut off Artsakh from the rest of Armenia in July 2023, barring even the Red Cross from entering the territory after accusing the Armenian branch of the Red Cross of smuggling unauthorized materials into the region. As living conditions in Artsakh became unbearable, the 120,000 Armenians residing in the region sought refuge in Armenia.

In September 2023, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sent nearly 70 metric tons of humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh, including critical food aid. Russia delivered fifty tons of humanitarian supplies to Stepanakert, the region’s capital. Around the same time, the United States offered $11.5 million in humanitarian assistance to address the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In a September 2023 press release, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “We encourage the sides to engage in direct talks and focus on ways to increase the flow of humanitarian supplies to the population of the region. The United States remains committed to supporting efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve long-standing issues and achieve a dignified and durable peace.”

Looking Ahead

Samvel Shahramanyan, the head of Artsakh’s local government, signed a decree according to which all of the republic’s state institutions will be inactive by January 2024. Some have called for international intervention and retribution in the wake of Azerbaijan’s actions to reclaim Nagorno-Karabakh.

While the current conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia does not appear to be approaching resolve, international groups and nations have rallied together to provide aid. Border and cultural conflicts are difficult to resolve. Thus, providing humanitarian protection and aid to address the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh is paramount for the foreseeable future.

– Tatiana Gnuva
Photo: Flickr