A group of United Nations (UN) experts voiced concern about Azerbaijan’s continuing blockade of the Lachin corridor, stating that this action has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

An official statement released on August 7 by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights highlights that “the blockade, obstructing the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia for the past seven months, has left the population facing acute shortages of food staples, medication, and hygiene products, impacted the functioning of medical and educational institutions, and placed the lives of the residents – especially children, persons with disabilities, older persons, pregnant women, and the sick – at significant risk.”

The UN experts further emphasized that the blockade of the Lachin Corridor escalated into a humanitarian crisis, causing critical scarcities of vital food items such as sunflower oil, fish, chicken, dairy products, cereal, sugar, and baby formula. Additionally, they cautioned that the region’s medical resources were depleting rapidly, resulting in challenges for hospitals to deliver adequate care. The situation has been aggravated by the dwindling fuel supplies, which hindered the operation of ambulances.

The UN experts urged Azerbaijani authorities to promptly restore unrestricted and safe movement of individuals, vehicles, and goods along the Lachin corridor in both directions, as stipulated by the ceasefire agreement of November 2020. Additionally, they urged the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the area to fulfill their responsibility of safeguarding the corridor as mandated by the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

“By lifting the blockade, the authorities can alleviate the suffering of thousands of people in Nagorno-Karabakh and allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population,” the experts said. “It is essential to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of all individuals during this critical time,” the experts said.

Meanwhile, Baku characterized the statement from the UN special rapporteurs as biased. 

“It is worrisome that UN special rapporteurs and experts, who have for 30 years turned a blind eye to the occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories, to the violation of the human rights of one million refugees and forcibly displaced people, make biased statements having been deceived and subjected to Armenia’s manipulations,” Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, as reported by local media.

Read also: UN Secretary-General Urges Compliance with ICJ Orders to Secure Unhindered Passage through Lachin Corridor