More than 70,000 people have already left Nagorno-Karabakh

the authorities Armenia They said that by Thursday there were already more than 70,000 Karabakh people who abandoned their homes Nagorno Karabakh They moved to their lands in search of Shelter.

Nazili Baghdasaryan, spokeswoman for the Armenian Prime Minister, stated that Total 70,500 Forcibly displaced people have arrived from Artsakh in the past five days, which represents More than half of the total population there.

50,866 of them have already been registered, most of whom have family homes or friends in Armenia while the rest have state-provided housing.

The mass exodus began on Sunday, and has been full of obstacles and difficulties. At night that same day, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia was already blocked by the number of cars leaving the place.

On Monday evening, a fuel tank exploded at a gas station where many people were also queuing to escape. at least 68 deadAbout 300 wounded and more than a hundred missing.

In addition, there was a fuel shortage due to the sudden increase in demand.

“Everyone worked through the night, it should be noted He added: “The density of arrivals has not decreased at all, and we continue to serve about 1,000 people per hour, and direct and implement their registration.”Al-Baghdasaryan said in this regard.

To support this migration, the Armenian government – once the congestion in the Lachin Corridor is eased – will provide about 35 buses to transport Karabakh residents who do not have their own car from the capital – Stepanakert – to the country.

This Armenian exodus occurred in response to the recent announcement issued by the government of this separatist enclave that, Starting January 1, 2024The Republic will be dissolved and, therefore, will cease to exist.

Leader Samvel Shagarmanyan noted in a decree that as of the new year, the republic founded more than three decades ago “ceases to exist.”

In response to this announcement, the Prime Minister of Armenia said: Nikol PashinyanShe denounced the implementation of this “ethnic cleansing” There he confirmed that in the coming days there would be no Armenians remaining in the region.

“It hurts. Our whole lives have turned to dust,” lamented Lilit Gregorian, a 32-year-old teacher who, like many others, had hoped to cross the border because her rights and safety would not be respected.

In this context, Pashinyan also urged the support of the international community, as his Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan did a few days ago during the United Nations General Assembly.

At that meeting, the official requested this “Immediate” sending of a UN “mission”. To Nagorno-Karabakh to assess and monitor the situation on the ground.

“The international community must make every effort to immediately deploy a UN inter-agency mission in Nagorno-Karabakh with the aim of monitoring and assessing the human rights, humanitarian and security situation on the ground,” he said.

(With information from AFP, EFE and AP)