Friday, August 4 2023 12:44

ArmInfo. On August 3, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Vahe Gevorgyan participated in and  delivered remarks at the open debate on "Famine and conflict-induced global food insecurity" organized by the United States under the agenda item "Maintenance of international peace and security" of the  UN Security Council.

The open debate was chaired by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.  The United Nations Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator Reena  Ghelani delivered a briefing.

In his remarks, the Deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan  particularly noted:

"I would like to express my appreciation to the United States for  convening this open debate on such a pertinent topic. I thank Ms.  Reena Ghelani, UN Famine Prevention and Response Coordinator and  other distinguished briefers for presenting their views on the ways  to prevent and address famine by strengthening food security in  conflict situations.

Starvation has been repeatedly used as a method of warfare and  perpetration of genocide throughout history. But today, I am not  going to recall examples from the past or assess future risks of  famine in the context of the conflict. Instead I would bring to the  attention of the Council a situation which is happening right now, a  situation wherein people do not know whether today they will be able  to find milk formula for their babies, loaf of bread for their  children or provide medicines to critically ill relatives.

As we meet, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh face threat to their very  existence resulting from the complete blockade, imposed by  Azerbaijan. For more than seven months Azerbaijan continues to block  the Lachin corridor, a humanitarian lifeline connecting  Nagorno-Karabakh with the outside world. This illegal and inhumane  action is in blatant violation of the order of the International  Court of Justice of 22 February 2023 reconfirmed by July 6 order,  norms of the international humanitarian law and the Trilateral  Statement of 9 November 2020.

The complete halt of any humanitarian supplies by Azerbaijan since 15  June this year has led to a critical shortage of food, medical  supplies and other essential goods, creating a full-fledged  humanitarian crisis.  Disruption of electricity and gas supplies has  been paralyzing social and healthcare services and the transportation  system, depriving the besieged population of their fundamental human  rights.

The blockade has a particularly devastating impact on the most  vulnerable segments of the population. Due to the lack of essential  foods and vitamins, approximately 2,000 pregnant women, around 30,000  children, 20,000 elderly persons and 9,000 persons with disabilities  are struggling to survive under conditions of malnutrition, absence  of basic supplies and medicines.

Motive, Azerbaijan continuously targets civilians conducting  agricultural works, augmenting its manifest intent to impose  starvation on the population. 

These warning signs have already been communicated by the ICRC which  remains the only international humanitarian mission in  Nagorno-Karabakh. In its July 25 news release the International  Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern over growing  humanitarian needs and emphasized that it is not currently able to  bring humanitarian assistance to the civilian population through the  Lachin corridor, while stressing that its humanitarian aid convoys  are a lifeline for the population in the area. After 3 days of this  communication Azerbaijan arrested 68-year-old Vagif Khachatryan, a  person who was being transported by the ICRC from Nagorno-Karabakh to  Armenia for medical treatment. The arrest of a person under the ICRC  protection whose transfer was preliminary agreed with Azerbaijan is  not merely perfidious act but well-calculated obstruction of the ICRC  work in Nagorno-Karabakh.

To address life-saving needs of the most vulnerable, on 26 July the  Government of Armenia decided to deliver a consignment of around 360  tons of essential goods, mainly food and medical supplies to Nagorno-  Karabakh. We appealed to the peacekeeping forces of the Russian  Federation to organize the delivery of the humanitarian assistance to  those in need which was established practice throughout past months.   However, up until now, the humanitarian cargo remains at the entrance  to the Lachin corridor due to obstruction and denial by Azerbaijani  side of its transfer.  

The dire humanitarian situation on the ground and the risks of  evolving hunger in Nagorno-Karabakh require efficient and timely  response by the international community to ensure full and  unconditional implementation of the ICJ decisions and full respect of  international human rights and international humanitarian law.

We hope that yesterday's statement of the UN Secretary-General  wherein he expressed deep concern on the humanitarian situation and  emphasized the need of the implementation of ICJ orders for ensuring  unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along Lachin  corridor will be the first step towards full UN engagement on the  ground. This engagement is as needed as ever. The cost of inaction is  too high to be sustained and this mass atrocity being perpetrated  through starvation should and can be prevented and stopped.

We call on the UN and its Security Council to undertake urgent  measures to ensure full adherence of Azerbaijan to its legally  binding obligations under the ICJ orders and the international  humanitarian law, immediately restore the freedom of movement across  the Lachin corridor and allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access  of the UN agencies and the ICRC to Nagorno-Karabakh."