Over 100,000 Armenians Flee Nagorno-Karabakh as UN Mission Prepares to Assess Humanitarian Needs

The Armenian government confirmed on Saturday that more than 100,000 Armenian residents had fled the Nagorno-Karabakh region following the military operation launched by Azerbaijan that ended with the surrender of the separatists. This is happening, while a UN mission is expected to arrive in the region at the end of this week, to assess humanitarian needs, which is the first of its kind in nearly three decades.

Published on: 09/30/2023 – 11:23

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said Nazli Baghdasaryan, the Prime Minister’s spokeswoman Nikol Pashinyan On Saturday, more than 100,000 people left the Nagorno-Karabakh region, noting that the Armenian population in the region was estimated at about 120,000.

For his part, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed late on Friday that more than 100,000 refugees had arrived in Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Many are hungry, tired and in need of immediate assistance,” Filippo Grandi said in a post on social media.

“The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian partners are intensifying support for the Armenian authorities, but international assistance is needed very urgently,” he added.

Over 100,000 refugees have now arrived in Armenia from Karabakh.

Many are hungry, exhausted and need immediate assistance.

UNHCR and other humanitarian partners are stepping up their support to the Armenian authorities, but international help is very urgently required.

— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) September 29, 2023

“Allow those who wish to leave without hindrance.”

The International Court of Justice announced on Friday that it had received a request from Armenia to take urgent measures to protect the residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, with the continued exodus of Armenians from it following the Azerbaijan military operation.

The court said in a statement on Friday that Yerevan asked it on Thursday to urge Baku “to refrain from preventing the safe and rapid return of those who were displaced to their homes during the recent military attack (…) while allowing those who wish to leave Karabakh without obstacles.”

However, the mass exodus of Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave continued on Friday, the day after the announcement of the dissolution of the unilaterally declared separatist republic, and despite Azerbaijan’s calls for them to stay.

Meanwhile, the United Nations announced on Friday that a mission to assess humanitarian needs will arrive in the region at the end of this week, the first of its kind in nearly three decades.

France 24/AFP/Reuters

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2023-09-30 09:23:13