Alert note: Emergency Assistance to Displaced Armenian Refugees from Nagorno Karabakh after the Onset of Harsh Winter Conditions

Mission10Forty has submitted an alert note due to onset of harsh winter conditions in Nagorno Karabakh.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijani forces initiated an offensive operation in NagornoKarabakh, an area in the South Caucasus that has been at the center of a long-standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, after nine months of blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, which was the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

After the extensive military assault by the Azerbaijani armed forces, all population living in Nagorno Karabakh were compelled to leave Nagorno Karabakh in the ensuing days. 120,000 people fled to Armenia encountering various challenges. The situation for forcibly displaced people took a distressing turn starting from January 22, 2024, as adverse weather conditions, notably harsh winter weather, compounded their already challenging circumstances. Despite four months passing since displacement, the needs of forcibly displaced people remain largely unmet. The world’s attention, diverted to other pressing crises, has resulted them struggling with a significant decline in their circumstances. Consequently, the forcibly displaced people confront a sharp worsening of their situation due to the harsh onset of winter.