The United Nations and other international humanitarian organisations should “push harder” for access to the blockaded ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, experts and sources in the region have told openDemocracy.
Thousands of ethnic Armenian residents of the region are currently fleeing their homes for Armenia itself following Azerbaijan’s military offensive to take control of the region last week. At least 200 people were killed and more than 400 wounded in 24 hours of fierce fighting, according to Nagorno-Karabakh officials. A Russia-brokered ceasefire, essentially seen as surrender of Karabakh’s local defence army, is currently in place.
A source with expertise in human rights in the South Caucasus who wished to remain anonymous told openDemocracy that the “UN is very reluctant to push for access” for humanitarian assistance, but that UN agencies could gain access if they were “bolder”.
