In Goris, a border town between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, a wave of solidarity is being organized to help the thousands of refugees who are flocking following recent clashes in the region. Town residents and local charities are doing all they can to provide essential humanitarian assistance to displaced families, but the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to manage with the scale of the arrivals.
France 24’s special correspondents, Taline Oundjian, Liza Kaminov and Mohamed Sha’Ban, were able to see first-hand the devastating effects of this conflict on local populations. The images show exhausted and traumatized refugees, desperately seeking shelter, food and medical care. The town of Goris, which had only a few thousand inhabitants, is now overwhelmed by the massive influx of people fleeing the fighting.
Faced with this critical situation, the solidarity of the inhabitants of Goris is remarkable. They opened their doors and their hearts to welcome and support the refugees. Local families share their homes and offer hot meals to the new arrivals. Volunteers also mobilized to distribute aid packages containing basic necessities such as clothes, blankets and hygiene products.
Charities also play a key role in providing lifesaving assistance. They provide emergency medical care, set up temporary assembly centers and coordinate the distribution of humanitarian aid. But despite all their efforts, they find themselves overwhelmed by the growing number of refugees. The needs are immense and the resources are limited.
This humanitarian drama also raises questions regarding international aid. International organizations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Red Cross, have deployed teams there, but their capacity to respond to the scale of the crisis remains limited. Greater coordination between the various international actors and increased mobilization of resources are necessary to deal with this emergency situation.
In conclusion, the situation in Goris is alarming and requires an immediate and sustained response. Local residents and charities have shown incredible solidarity, but more international support and aid is needed to meet the urgent needs of the thousands of Nagorno-Karabakh refugees. The ongoing humanitarian crisis highlights the importance of cooperation and coordinated action to alleviate the suffering of conflict-affected populations.