In the wake of Azerbaijan’s recent incursion into the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, an exodus of staggering proportions has unfolded, with Armenia’s government reporting that almost 23% of the region’s population—approximately 28,000 individuals—has sought refuge within Armenia’s borders. This sudden flight was triggered by Azerbaijan’s lifting of a 10-month blockade on the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, a blockade that had inflicted severe scarcities of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel. Amidst this humanitarian crisis, concerns about potential reprisals from Azerbaijan have gripped the displaced residents.
As this crisis unfolds, the region was rocked by a tragic incident—an explosion at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh that has claimed the lives of 68 individuals, leaving 105 others missing and nearly 300 injured, as reported by Karabakh’s ombudsman office.
The explosion occurred while people were queuing at a gas station outside the capital, Stepanakert, late on Monday. Although the exact cause remains uncertain, Nagorno-Karabakh’s presidential aide, David Babayan, indicated that preliminary information suggested negligence as the root cause, with sabotage being an improbable factor.
Armenian authorities have also disclosed that 125 bodies from Nagorno-Karabakh have been transported to Armenia for identification, clarifying that all of these individuals lost their lives during the recent conflict.
Hikmet Hajiyev, an aide to Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, conveyed that Azerbaijani hospitals are prepared to treat victims but did not confirm whether any had been admitted.
Additionally, Azerbaijan has announced its intention to supply 30 metric tons of gasoline and 34 metric tons of diesel fuel to the beleaguered region.
On the international front, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called upon President Aliyev to exercise restraint in the region, assure the residents’ rights, and grant access to an international observer mission.
In a show of solidarity, the US National Security Council has pledged additional assistance to support local communities in addressing the needs of those affected or displaced by the violence in Nagorno-Karabakh, offering essential supplies such as hygiene kits, blankets, and clothing.
The recent military offensive by Azerbaijan led to the rapid defeat of Armenian forces, prompting separatist authorities to agree to disarm and initiate discussions on Nagorno-Karabakh’s “reintegration” into Azerbaijan. Fuel shortages in Stepanakert had persisted for months, and the fuel depot explosion exacerbated the crisis, intensifying concerns about access to basic necessities.
Against this backdrop, the streets of Stepanakert are now crowded with vehicles loaded with belongings, and residents are anxiously awaiting their uncertain future. Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh have requested residents to delay their departures to ensure unimpeded access for emergency services and have offered buses for those seeking to leave.
Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Europe think tank, remarked, “I think we’re going to see the vast majority of people in Karabakh leaving for Armenia.” He noted that the prospect of integration into Azerbaijan, a foreign land with an unfamiliar language and the dismantling of local institutions, is an offer that most people in Nagorno-Karabakh are unlikely to accept.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region, once an autonomous enclave within Azerbaijan during the Soviet era, fell under the control of ethnic Armenian forces with support from the Armenian military following a protracted separatist war that concluded in 1994. Recent conflicts in 2020 resulted in Azerbaijan reclaiming parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories. Russia deployed a peacekeeping force of approximately 2,000 troops in the region under a ceasefire agreement. However, Russia’s shifting priorities, particularly its involvement in the Ukraine conflict, have emboldened Azerbaijan and its key ally, Turkey, while diminishing Russia’s influence in the region.
This report is a stark reminder of the complex and volatile geopolitical landscape in the South Caucasus, where longstanding disputes continue to exact a heavy toll on innocent civilians.
With contributions from AFP and Reuters
