Belgium acknowledges looming threat of starvation in Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib has declared that the situation around the Lachin corridor is leading to the threat of starvation and an increase in the incidence among the population of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), Sputnik Armenia reports.

Lahbib made the remarks after meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan on Tuesday, August 22. Since December 12, 2022, the sole road connecting Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia - the Lachin Corridor - has been blocked by Azerbaijan. Baku tightened the blockade on June 15, 2023, banning emergency relief supplies that were carried out by Russian peacekeepers and the International Committee of the Red Cross through the sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world. The move aggravated the shortages of food, medicine and other essential items experienced by the region’s population. On August 15, Karabakh Human Rights Defender’s office reported the first case of death from starvation.

According to her, after meeting with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, she was convinced that the life of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh was in danger, adding that the situation is unacceptable.

"Azerbaijan is obliged to ensure the security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and the uninterrupted traffic along the Lachin corridor," the Belgian Foreign Minister said.

Lahbib noted that the most important thing now is to find a way out, and she said she will promote Brussels’ position on the matter in Yerevan and Baku. The impasse has dragged on and action is needed to improve the living conditions of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, she said.