Thousands Flee Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, Seeking Refuge in Armenia
Prime Minister’s Office Reports Over 65,000 Residents Displaced
The Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia has announced a staggering number of Armenian residents who have fled the escalating armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, with over 65,000 individuals seeking refuge in Armenia as of today.
The spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Nageli Baghdasaryan, revealed that this number accounts for more than half of Nagorno-Karabakh’s total population of 120,000 people. The majority of those fleeing are forced to endure extensive journeys of more than 24 hours, navigating treacherous mountainous terrain in Azerbaijan.
Reuters news agency reports that many of these displaced residents brave freezing temperatures, going hungry and living in constant fear as they traverse the perilous mountains. Tragically, an explosion occurred at a gas station in Nagorno-Karabakh on the 25th, claiming the lives of at least 68 people who were desperately seeking fuel while attempting to escape to Armenia.
Nagorno-Karabakh, a region recognized as Azerbaijani territory, is currently under the control of Armenian separatist forces. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan erupted on the 19th, but a ceasefire was established just one day after the hostilities commenced.
In a recent development, Azerbaijan confirmed the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister, Ruben Vardanian, on the 27th. Vardanian, detained at the border, has been charged with illegal border crossing.
As this humanitarian crisis unfolds, the plight of the displaced population continues to worsen. The international community closely monitors the situation, urging for the restoration of peace and stability in the region.
Source: VOA News
* This article references information from Reuters.
The Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia announced that the number of Armenian residents who escaped Nagorno-Karabakh, where armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan began last week, and entered Armenia reached about 65,000 as of today (28th).
This figure, announced by Nageli Baghdasaryan, spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, is more than half of the 120,000 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia.
Reuters news agency said the majority of residents go to Armenia by driving for more than 24 hours through the narrow mountainous terrain of Azerbaijan, and many spend cold nights in the mountains in hunger and fear.
Earlier, an explosion occurred at a gas station in the Nagorno-Karabakh region on the 25th, killing at least 68 people as thousands of people and vehicles trying to escape to Armenia flocked to get fuel.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as Azerbaijani territory, but parts of it are run by Armenian separatist forces, and a ceasefire was reached a day after armed conflict began between the two sides on the 19th.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan announced yesterday (27th) that it had arrested former Nagorno-Karabakh state minister Ruben Vardanian at the border and charged him with illegal border crossing.
VOA News
* This article refers to Reuters.
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