A military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, region in the South Caucasus has pushed thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia. CARE Caucasus CEO Ketevan Khachidze describes some of the main needs of displaced people:
“Over 14,000 Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia, days after a military action was launched in the region, which was home to 120,000 ethnic Armenians. Rivers of cars – this is how locals are describing a long line of cars jamming the road, which is stretching for kilometers.
The mass exodus follows the almost ten-month blockade of the Lachin corridor, which is the only road to connect the enclave to Armenia. The blockade had caused a severe humanitarian crisis, cutting off the region from food, fuel, and medicine supplies. People were already malnourished, exhausted, and in despair, even before the corridor reopened.
They are devastated as they are leaving behind all their belongings, homes, and hopes to return. It takes 10-14 hours to cross the border. Children are cold due to falling temperatures, hungry, exhausted, and scared."
For media inquiries, please contact Iolanda Jaquemet, Senior Humanitarian Communications Coordinator, via [email protected].