Joint statement on Armenia and Azerbaijan on the serious humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

Joint statement by

· the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, MEP Marina KALJURAND,

· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, MEP Andrey KOVATCHEV, and

· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Azerbaijan, MEP Željana ZOVKO,

on the serious humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

Brussels, 1 August 2023 - "We are deeply worried by the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh due to Azerbaijan's ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor in violation of its commitments under the ceasefire statement of 9 November 2020 and of the legally binding ruling of the International Court of Justice of 22 February 2023, reaffirmed on 6 July 2023.

For almost eight months already, the local population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been suffering the consequences of the blockade, surviving only thanks to local production and to essential humanitarian supplies, notably by the ICRC. Azerbaijan's extension of the blockade to humanitarian supplies in recent weeks has now led to the scarcity of basic foodstuffs, life-saving medical products and other essential goods, while the shortage of fuel has disrupted local production and distribution. Medical evacuations by the ICRC have been disrupted as well. The estimated 120 000 inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh are facing a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention from the international community.[...]