UN mission in Nagorno-Karabakh for first time in 30 years
3 Min Read
Almost 100,417 out of 120,000 people who lived in Nagorno-Karabakh before the recent escalation last week have fled to Armenia.
-
Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh drive their cars on the road from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia's Goris in Syunik region, Armenia, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 (AP/Vasily Krestyaninov)
Members of the UN mission on Sunday embarked on a journey across the Aghdam road, heading toward Nagorno-Karabakh's capital, Stepanakert, also referred to as Khankendi, Azerbaijani Press Agency (APA) reported. This marks the first time such a mission has headed to that region in three decades.
The UN mission comprises representatives from various UN agencies and intends to acquaint itself with the region's current situation while evaluating the humanitarian needs of the local population.
Azerbaijani state-run media shows a UN monitoring mission moving through Aghdam towards Stepanakert this morning.
— Lindsey Snell (@LindseySnell) October 1, 2023
The vast majority of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh have fled at this point. pic.twitter.com/Fa6oUeEBRf
Almost 100,417 out of 120,000 people who lived in Nagorno-Karabakh before the recent escalation last week have fled to Armenia, said Armenian government spokeswoman Nazeli Baghdasaryan on Saturday.
Baghdasaryan told a press briefing that "as of this moment, 100,417 people have arrived in Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh, 21,043 vehicles have crossed the Hakari Bridge [in Lachin corridor]."
Moreover, she added that the Armenian authorities already registered 81,139 people and allocated temporary housing for 32,200 people.
The mass departure of Nagorno-Karabakh's predominantly Armenian population began last week, shortly after Azerbaijan initiated what it termed "local-level anti-terrorist operations" in the region on September 19.
Under the mediation of Russian peacekeepers, Nagorno-Karabakh's authorities agreed to disarm and surrender all their weaponry to Baku the following day. Notably, Armenia was not a party to these negotiations.
The Azerbaijani government committed to facilitating the "integration" of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians who chose to remain in the region, calling on them not to leave, following the mass displacement.
Read more: Azerbaijan MoD: Soldier killed by sniper near Armenia border
On Saturday, Armenia’s Ambassador to the UK, Varuzhan Nersesyan, said it is "too late" to prevent the Nagorno-Karabakh exodus of ethnic Armenians but warned that Azerbaijan could launch an invasion of Armenia if the West does nothing to respond to the events resulting in the forced displacement of Armenians in what is now Azeri-controlled territories.
Nersesyan also noted that firm security guarantees will likely not be enough to offer the remaining ethnic Armenians protection and avert a possible future war.
In an interview for The Telegraph, the Ambassador noted that "now that they see the international community’s reaction is a soft one… it’s not excluded that they may be tempted to carry out another attack on the Republic of Armenia."
“It is a serious situation and here the international community has a preventive and preemptive role to play, not to allow any country that is becoming a bully in international relations to threaten neighboring countries and to present unfounded territorial claims,” he added.
