More than twenty-four hours after the launch of Baku’s offensive on Nagorno-Karabakh, tensions are far from easing. According to a report released this Wednesday, September 20 by the Armenian separatists of the disputed enclave, some 200 deaths and 400 injured are to be deplored. A situation that the United States assured to monitor “very, very, very closely” this Wednesday evening.
“We are obviously following the deterioration of the humanitarian situation very, very closely” in Nagorno-Karabakh, which has been “exacerbated by attacks by Azerbaijan,” a White House spokesperson said.
“We want the suspension of military operations to be necessary and lasting because of the chaos it causes for civilian populations,” demanded John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, after the signing of a ceasefire -fire between Baku and Armenian separatists.
“There are at least 200 dead and more than 400 injured,” Nagorno Karabakh rights defender Gegham Stepanian said on social media on Wednesday. At least ten civilians were killed, including five children, he said. In addition to this, 40 civilians, including 13 children, were injured.
Anahit Manassian, an Armenian official in charge of protecting human rights, claimed that the health system was “paralyzed” in the enclave, preventing residents from receiving “first aid”.
“People’s fundamental rights are widely violated,” she added, accusing Azerbaijan of a “genocidal policy.” More than 10,000 people, including women, children and the elderly have already been evacuated from the enclave, an Armenian separatist official said Wednesday evening.
The separatists agreed to hold first talks on the “reintegration” of Nagorno-Karabakh into Azerbaijan on Thursday in the Azerbaijani town of Yevlakh.
