The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released a statement urging Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a humanitarian consensus to ease people's suffering in Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to the statement, despite continuous efforts, the ICRC cannot deliver humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Nagorno-Karabakh through the Lachin corridor or any other routes, including Aghdam.

Thus, the ICRC calls on the relevant decision-makers to allow the organization to resume its crucial humanitarian operations in the region.

“Tens of thousands of people rely on humanitarian aid reaching them through these routes. The civilian population is now facing a lack of life-saving medication and essentials like hygiene products and baby formula. Fruits, vegetables, and bread are increasingly scarce and costly, while some other food items such as dairy products, sunflower oil, cereal, fish, and chicken are not available,” the statement reads.

“Our humanitarian aid convoys are a lifeline for the population in this area. With these convoys blocked, our concern is that the humanitarian situation will further deteriorate. We are most worried about those who cannot help themselves. The sick and people with chronic diseases are particularly at risk, as are the elderly, infirm, and children. For us to operate here, we need the sides to reach a humanitarian consensus. This is life-saving work, and it must be allowed to continue,” said ICRC’s regional director for Eurasia, Ariane Bauer.

In its conclusion, the statement emphasized that the ICRC is engaged in ongoing bilateral discussions with both parties and remains committed to carrying out its humanitarian efforts as soon as a consensus is reached.

On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan reacted to the statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross. 

"We took note of the statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) of July 25 regarding the humanitarian situation in the region and the activities of the ICRC. As it is known, while assessing the firing at the Lachin border checkpoint on June 15, and the attempts of Armenian drivers to bring smuggled items to Azerbaijan in vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross as further illegal acts by Armenia against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, as well as hindering of operation of the checkpoint, we have demanded to stop such malign actions. 

Along with preventing attempts of Armenia for illegal actions, the Azerbaijani side has continued important cooperation with the ICRC. Following the discussions held by Azerbaijan with the ICRC, conditions were created within necessary regulations for the continuation of the passage of Armenian residents through the border checkpoint for medical purposes by the ICRC, and dozens of Armenian residents passed through the checkpoint in both directions on a daily basis.

Moreover, assistance was offered by Azerbaijan for transportation and delivery of larger quantities of medicine and cargo using the "Aghdam-Khankendi" road. Unfortunately, however, the Armenian side adamantly refuses this offer.

Furthermore, the visit of the ICRC medical personnel to the area to further assist in the passage of Armenian residents through the border checkpoint with the facilitation of ICRC was also regrettably refused on-site despite the previous agreements. 

The opposition of the Armenian side to the steps taken by Azerbaijan, as well as its intention to assist, including the proposals to use the "Aghdam-Khankendi" and other alternative roads as mentioned in the ICRC statement, once again proves that the claims of "tense humanitarian situation" in the region are a means of political manipulation and pressure.

It is important to comply with the humanitarian mandate of the ICRC, and refrain from the abuse of this mandate for political purposes," reads the statement.