Majority of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians moved to Armenia: EU

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Oct 2023 18:28
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"The visit comes as a plane carrying EU emergency supplies is due to arrive in Yerevan," the European Commission said in a statement.

An ethnic Armenian man from Nagorno-Karabakh sits near a tent camp after arriving to Armenia's Goris in Syunik region, Armenia, late Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Vasily Krestyaninov)

Almost all of the Armenian people living in Nagorno-Karabakh have been moved to Armenia, according to European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic, who is visiting the country.

"Almost the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh has now fled to Armenia," Lenarcic wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Earlier in the day, the commissioner reached Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, with the aim of organizing the EU's aid efforts in response to the large-scale displacement of people from Nagorno-Karabakh. He is scheduled to hold meetings with high-ranking Armenian authorities, collaborate with local EU humanitarian collaborators, and tour shelters accommodating those who have been displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The visit comes as a plane carrying EU emergency supplies is due to arrive in Yerevan," the European Commission said in a statement.

The aircraft is set to transport hygiene kits, kitchen sets, blankets, solar-powered LED lights, and solar flashlights, all sourced from the EU's humanitarian reserves, as per the statement.

Lenarcic will further address the assistance coordinated via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This encompasses shelter materials, food, and medical provisions provided by Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Sweden. Medical aid contributions will also be discussed, which have been extended by Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden.

"A team of EU humanitarian experts has been deployed to Armenia where they are now coordinating with humanitarian partners to assess the developing needs and to ensure a rapid response to the crisis," the Commission added.

In sum, the estimated combined worth of EU humanitarian assistance provided in response to the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis surpasses 10 million euros (equivalent to $10.5 million).

This significant exodus of Nagorno-Karabakh's predominantly Armenian population began after Azerbaijan declared the successful conclusion of its so-called "anti-terrorist" operation initiated against the breakaway region on September 19.

Since then, more than 100,400 of the 120,000 Nagorno-Karabakh residents have moved to Armenia, the Armenian cabinet says.

In the midst of the population displacement, a substantial explosion occurred at a gas station close to the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert, on September 25th. The blast resulted in the tragic loss of at least 125 lives and inflicted severe injuries on numerous individuals.

On Thursday, members of the European Parliament accused Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing against ethnic Armenians: calling on the European Parliament to impose sanctions.

The European Parliament stated that it considers the "current situation [in Nagorno Karabkh] to amount to ethnic cleansing," adding that it "strongly condemns the threats and violence perpetrated by Azerbaijani forces."