As the exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh continues, the UN announced on Friday the sending, this weekend, of a mission to the enclave to mainly assess humanitarian needs, while the organization had not had access to this region “for about 30 years”. According to Yerevan, the number of Armenians who left the enclave has exceeded 100,000.
This dramatic situation follows the military operation led by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, an area of conflict between these two countries for several decades. The Armenians, mainly Christians, feel threatened by the arrival of Azerbaijani soldiers, mainly Muslims. In their flight, they leave everything behind, including their memories and cultural heritage.
Faced with this humanitarian crisis, the European Union and the UN have called for urgent intervention to assess the needs of refugees and provide them with concrete aid. It is in this context that the UN decided to send a mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to assess the situation on the ground.
This mission will be made up of around ten people from the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs and will have the main objective of identifying the humanitarian needs of the displaced populations and those still present in the region. It will also be crucial to ensure the protection of human rights and respect for international law.
Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is already on site, providing technical and logistical assistance to refugees crossing the border. However, the situation remains worrying, as the number of Armenians who have fled Nagorno-Karabakh already exceeds 100,000.
It is important to emphasize that cohabitation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities seems impossible, according to experts. Tensions between these two ethnic groups date back decades and recent clashes have only reinforced these deep divisions. It is therefore essential to find sustainable solutions to guarantee the safety and well-being of all populations concerned.
The current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh raises urgent questions in terms of international politics and the protection of human rights. It is essential that the international community continues to closely monitor this crisis and provide concrete support to all those affected. The UN mission in Nagorno-Karabakh will be an important first step in this direction, but it will take a continued effort to resolve the underlying problems and build a future of peace and stability in the region.