ICRC publishes video of current situation in emptied Artsakh

ArmInfo. The International Committee of the Red Cross published a video documenting the search  for the few residents of Nagorno-Karabakh who remained in the republic after the Azerbaijani aggression.

The message notes, in part: "ICRC teams are visiting communities in  Karabakh in their search to provide help to people after the huge  exodus which followed the recent escalation of hostilities.

A small number of people remain in their homes, either by choice or  because they were unable to leave by themselves. Some require medical  help or food and water. Others are requesting assistance in  contacting loved ones or securing transport to leave. Our teams have  also assisted in the careful removal of people who have died, onwards  to mortuary facilities for appropriate and dignified care.

"We've got winter coming. I know from personal experience that the  winters here are very harsh", said Chris Poole, a weapons  contamination expert working with the ICRC.

"Time is of the essence. We need to get into these areas, with the  necessary expertise, with the necessary materials".

Teams in the city are in contact with a small number of residents who  remain in their homes and we are constantly finding new individuals.  Homes, shops and offices have been left abandoned and many dogs and  cats can be seen in the streets.

We recently met a man who was staying inside a small kiosk in a  shopping centre. Others are grateful to receive bread and water or  make use of ICRC phones in order to try to contact family or friends.

An ICRC team was approached by a man who lives with his 92-year-old  father in a very remote mountain community. He was not aware that so  many people had fled the region as he has been without electricity  for several weeks, with no access to TV or radio.  "I saw from afar  that you arrived. I was going to collect water and saw you are  there", said Aharon Ghazaryan when talking to the ICRC team.  "When  people were fleeing I couldn't leave with my father, because he is  very old man. Thank God that you came, we saw you, and got  information about what is going on right now," he said, the source  notes.