Daily Update: Day 31 Under Blockade
Large scale power outages continue in Artsakh as Azerbaijan blocks repair crews: As of January 9th, Azerbaijan has continued to block access for specialists from Artsakh to the Aghavno-Berdzor region to repair a damaged power supply line. The obstruction of emergency restoration efforts, caused by Azerbaijan's disruptive actions, has resulted in ongoing power outages throughout Artsakh, affecting citizens to this day. As the area is experiencing snow and winter weather, these power disruptions have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region. What does this mean? During this cold weather and heavy snowfall, regular and large scale power outages have further worsened the humanitarian crisis caused by the blockade. As a result, tens of thousands of people are now facing additional challenges with regard to heating and other vital needs. As a result of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan on the only route connecting Artsakh to Armenia, three patients from the Health Ministry's Republican Medical Center in Stepanakert were closely monitored for several days by a team of physicians. The patients, who had been diagnosed with conditions including "condition after removal of a pituitary macroadenoma, acromegaly, diffuse goitre," "condition after liver transplantation and chemotherapy," and "papillary thyroid carcinoma," were transported on January 10th, thanks to the mediation and support of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to various specialized medical centers in the Republic of Armenia. What does this mean? Patients in serious conditions requiring treatment have been unable to receive the care they need without the help and support of the International Committee of the Red Cross. This further demonstrates that the Goris-Stepanakert highway (Lachin Corridor) has been completely closed off to the free movement of civilians residing in Artsakh. Similar to prior acts of provocation, a false document created by the Azerbaijani special forces outlining an evacuation plan began circulating online with the Artsakh Public Television letterhead on January 9. Artsakh Public Television confirmed that this was a fake document that was created using based on previously circulated documents distributed on behalf of actual other organizations in the Republic of Artsakh. What does this mean? The Azerbaijani special services, taking advantage of the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, continue to terrorize the population by spreading disinformation to create panic and intimidate residents amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis. On January 10, Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan introduced Ararat Melkumyan, the new Secretary of the Security Council of the Artsakh Republic. Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan presented the newly appointed directors of the support funds to the staff of the Artsakh Investment Fund and the Rural and Agricultural Support Fund. Valery Kazaryan was appointed as Executive Director of the Rural and Agricultural Support Fund. The State Minister stressed the strategic importance of the agricultural sector in ensuring food security amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis. |