Red Cross supplies delivered to Nagorno-Karabakh via Lachin and Aghdam roads

Red Cross trucks carrying food and medical supplies arrived on Monday in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian-populated enclave within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, almost 10 months after a crippling blockade was imposed in the region by Baku.

The supplies were delivered along two roads simultaneously, via the Lachin road leading from Armenia into the land-locked region from the southwest, and the Aghdam road from Azerbaijani government-held territory to the northeast.

Ariane Bauer, the regional director for Europe and Central Asia of The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said:

"We are extremely relieved that many people reliant on humanitarian aid will finally receive much-needed support in the coming days."

"People are queuing hours for bread," she said, adding that she hoped aid convoys would continue "not just today but in the weeks to come, so that we can regularly get aid to those who need it."

She noted that the deliveries had been made possible by agreement between the rival authorities.

In a statement on social media, the Karabakh administration said around 23 tonnes of flour as well as medical and hygiene products arrived in the region.

Azerbaijan's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had agreed to the ICRC shipments, and that it was ready to ensure the parallel use of the two roads.

Photo: ArmenPress