Growing Concerns for Humanitarian Crisis as Thousands Seek Shelter on Stepanakert Streets

After Azerbaijan launched a military attack on Nagorno-Karabakh, the main city is now facing a crisis as thousands of ethnic Armenians are left without shelter. According to officials in Karabakh, many families have been separated due to the positions of the Azerbaijani army, leaving them unsure if their loved ones are still alive. The region is also experiencing shortages of food and medicine. However, the International Red Cross managed to deliver 70 tonnes of relief aid to the area on Saturday, marking the first convoy to reach the disputed territory since it was captured by Azerbaijan five days ago. The Red Cross believes that the ceasefire is holding and more aid is expected to be delivered soon. Russia has also delivered aid to the region. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but has been controlled by ethnic Armenians for the past thirty years. During the assault by Azerbaijan's army, at least 200 ethnic Armenians were killed, compared to an estimated 60 Azerbaijan troops. Now, thousands of displaced people who have been separated from their relatives are forced to sleep in tents or in the open near the airport in Stepanakert. The airport is close to a Russian peacekeeping base, where five peacekeepers were killed in the recent fighting. Azerbaijan has stated that it is working with Russian peacekeepers to disarm the ethnic Armenian forces, which is a key demand for a ceasefire. Russian officials have reported that the armed formations of Karabakh have begun handing over weapons and military equipment to the control of the Russian peacekeepers. So far, six armored vehicles, over 800 guns, and about 5,000 units of ammunition have been handed over. The future of the 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh remains uncertain. Azerbaijan aims to reintegrate the region, but an Azerbaijani official stated that no one is being forced to leave. Azerbaijan is also considering granting amnesty to Karabakh fighters who surrender their weapons, allowing them to leave for Armenia if they wish. Armenia has established facilities to accommodate thousands of ethnic Armenians, but Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hopes that they will not have to leave Nagorno-Karabakh. However, many people in Stepanakert are likely to choose to leave given the current situation. A journalist named Siranush Sargsyan shared that most people from her generation, who have already experienced three previous wars, prefer to leave. US Senator Gary Peters has expressed concern for the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and has called for an international observer mission to be deployed in the region in order to provide accurate information about the ongoing events.