120,000 Armenian Christians Still Trapped In Nagorno-Karabakh
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JEREVAN/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Some 120,000 Armenian Christians remained trapped Saturday in the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh and struggled to survive as Azerbaijan continued to block the only land route from Armenia, Christian aid workers told Worthy News.
“Christians blockaded in Nagorno-Karabakh urgently need food and hygiene essentials. Amongst them are many elderly, children and sick,” said Barnabas Aid, a Christian aid group working in the area.
“Almost totally encircled by the territory of Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and its population of 120,000 Armenians have been cut off from Armenia since December 2022. They are desperately short of food, medicine, and fuel because of an Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin Corridor for the last five months,” Barnabas Aid told Worthy News in a statement. “It’s the only land route from Armenia into Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Barnabas Aid said it is raising funds as Christians blockaded in the area “urgently need food and hygiene essentials. Amongst them are many elderly, children and sick.”
The group stressed that the “growing humanitarian crisis in the region is now very serious, despite much-needed support already provided by Barnabas Aid.” It said it managed to provide 180 tonnes of food – nine truck-loads – “for our suffering brothers and sisters, despite the blockade.”
Yet the “need is still huge,” Barnabas Aid noted, adding that it has also urged its supporters to pray for the Armenian Christians who face significant challenges “during this prolonged time of trial.”
Barnabas Aid said it hopes its donation and prayer appeal “will give hope to our suffering brothers and sisters in Nagorno-Karabakh by providing essentials such as lentils, beans, rice, oil, flour, salt, sugar, and powdered milk for infants as well as soap, washing powder, and toothpaste.”
Mainly Christian Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the mountainous enclave and after the latest fighting in 2020 Moscow brokered a ceasefire between the South Caucasus enemies. A series of clashes in recent weeks along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan left more than a dozen soldiers dead and sparked fears of a new conflict, observers said.
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