The aftermath of Azerbaijan’s lightning offensive to recapture Nagorno-Karabakh has seen a significant exodus of Armenians from the region. By Thursday morning, over 65,000 forcibly displaced persons had crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Armenian government spokeswoman Nazeli Baghdasaryan.
Before the offensive, an estimated 120,000 ethnic Armenians resided in Nagorno-Karabakh. The ongoing displacement crisis prompted Armenian authorities to take action, with Baghdasaryan noting, “The state is providing suitable housing to all those who do not have a predetermined place of residence.”
Azerbaijan’s reopening of the Lachin corridor, the sole road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, under the supervision of Russian peacekeepers, marked a critical point in the conflict. This occurred four days after Armenian separatist forces agreed to lay down arms and disband their army, leading to the return of the Armenian-populated separatist enclave under the control of the central government in Baku.
The change in territorial control has resulted in a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians, intensifying an already challenging humanitarian situation. Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, had broken away from Baku three decades ago, leading to two wars between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
As Yerevan grapples with the influx of displaced individuals, officials are also engaged in efforts to locate more than 100 people reported missing in a devastating fuel depot explosion on Monday, which claimed the lives of 68 individuals. This tragedy compounds the humanitarian challenges Armenia faces as it strives to provide shelter and support to the sea of displaced and vulnerable ethnic Armenians affected by the conflict.
Sources By Agencies
