The Armenian National Committee of America Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian travelled to Armenia and Karabakh last week as part of a mission that included first-hand surveys of the benefits of U.S. assistance programs for both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, ANCA reported.

In addition to meetings with Nagorno Karabakh Deputy Prime Minister Artur Aghabekyan, Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan and Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian, Nahapetian visited with representatives of the HALO Trust, which receives close to half of the $2 million annual U.S. assistance package to Karabakh for demining purposes.

HALO Trust offered shocking statistics about the ongoing maiming of civilians, including children, due to the landmines and explosive remnants in Karabakh, noting that the injury rate is ahead of even Afghanistan on a per capita basis.

The ANCA has been be advocating for the expansion of U.S. assistance to Karabakh to the $5 million level to address these concerns.