Since December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan has closed the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the external world, under environmental pretexts. As a result of Azerbaijani actions, 120,000 inhabitants of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabagh), of which 30,000 are children, are in a humanitarian crisis. Moreover, because of the blockade, 1,100 citizens, of which 270 are minors, have not been able to return to their homes.
Consequently, the supply of food, medicine and vital goods from Armenia to Artsakh has ceased. Essential services for winter such as gas and electricity, have also been cut. As a result, healthcare operations, educational activities and other vital services are paralyzed. The schools, kindergartens and other educational institutions are fully suspended. The situation remains very critical.
In addition to this humanitarian disaster, the blockade is a direct violation of fundamental human rights and freedom of the people living in Artsakh including children. Azerbaijani actions are violating the basic rights to free movement and social protection, including education and healthcare. The blockade threatens the rights to life, freedom and security.
Such rough violations of human rights threaten the health and right to life of children living in Artsakh and disrupt their well-being․
Hereby, World Vision Armenia, as a child rights protection organization, on the grounds of preventing the impending humanitarian disaster and guaranteeing the rights of people living in Artsakh, especially children, calls for an immediate ending of blockade of Artsakh and restoring of the fundamental rights of its residents.
World Vision Armenia is committed to continue investing its capacities in addressing the problems of children affected by this situation and their families today and immediately after the resolution of the conflict.
