Tuesday, September 26 2023 16:31

ArmInfo.The EU is boosting its humanitarian funding with EUR 5 million in response to  the increasing needs resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis. The press release published on the official website of European Commission reads.

As the source notes: "The conflict escalation and subsequent  ceasefire is expected to trigger a mass exodus of people from  Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, with approximately 13 500 refugees  having crossed the border already. At the same time, there is a major  food shortage and lack of access to electricity and water within the  Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.

The EUR 5 million humanitarian funding includes EUR 500 000 of  emergency support of emergency support announced last week and EUR  4.5 million new funding, which will:

1. assist people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. This aid  will be delivered by various EU humanitarian partners operating in  Armenia to reach around 25 000 people. The priority is to provide  cash assistance, shelter, food security and livelihoods assistance.

2. assist vulnerable people inside Nagorno-Karabakh. This aid will be  channelled through the International Committee of Red Cross and aims  to support around 60 000 people with food, healthcare, shelter and  logistics.

The EU is also deploying a humanitarian expert to the region who will  work hand in hand with humanitarian partners on the ground to ensure  a rapid response to the crisis.

Including the new funding announced today, the European Commission  has provided more than EUR 25.8 million in humanitarian aid since the  conflict escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020. At the outbreak of  the 2020 conflict in Nagorno- Karabakh, the Commission promptly  responded with EUR 6.9 million in humanitarian support to address the  needs of the most vulnerable among the civilians directly affected by  the hostilities.

EU humanitarian funding is provided in line with the humanitarian  principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.  The European Commission also plays a key role in facilitating  humanitarian coordination and information sharing among various  organisations, including donors, authorities and humanitarian  partners." In turn, today USAID Administrator Samantha Power, who is  on a visit to Armenia, said that "the United States will provide  Armenia with support in the amount of $11.5 million for the  humanitarian needs of people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh."

In addition, as ArmInfo previously reported with reference to the  Swedish Ambassador to Armenia, Sweden, through the Swedish  International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), allocated 15  million Swedish kronor to the International Committee of the Red  Cross to meet the humanitarian needs of the population of  Nagorno-Karabakh.

On September 19, Azerbaijan, under the pretext of an "anti-terrorist  operation," undertook another act of aggression against Artsakh. As a  result of enemy aggression, hundreds of Artsakh residents were  injured, more than 200 deaths were reported, including civilians, and  more than 10,000 were evacuated.

On September 20, Artsakh fell. Azerbaijan began the forcible  subjugation of the NKR. On September 20, late in the evening it  became known that Azerbaijan had deliberately shot at the car of the  Russian peacekeeping contingent, killing 5 people, including the  deputy commander of the RPC. Today, there were reports that one  soldier was killed and another was wounded as a result of shooting at  another RPCvehicle.  On September 21, a meeting between  representatives of Baku and Stepanakert was held in Yevlakh.   Azerbaijan demanded the disarmament of the Artsakh Defense Army, the  surrender of all military personnel and the abolition of all  government bodies.

On September 22, the process of abolishing the Artsakh Defense Army  began. There are reports that the enemy side exterminated the  population of the villages captured on September 19-20. During search  operations from September 21 to 24, the NKR Ministry of Internal  Affairs discovered the bodies of 105 Artsakh residents, including  brutally murdered children and elderly people.

As of the morning of September 26, more than 13 thousand forcibly  displaced Artsakh residents had already arrived in Armenia. The night  before it also became known that Artsakh was connected to the energy  system of Azerbaijan. Protests demanding the resignation of the RA  Prime Minister continue in Yerevan and regions.

We add that as a result of the explosion that took place in the fuel  depot near Stepanakert yesterday, according to preliminary data, more  than 290 people were injured, 20 more died, there are still missing  people.