The Nagorno-Karabakh enclave has almost emptied of its inhabitants. In a few days, more than 100,000 residents fled to Armenia, according to the latest count from the Yerevan authorities.
On the town hall square in Goris, near the theater, Slavik rummages through a plastic bag full of clothes. “I couldn’t take anything other than what I carry with me, he explains. These clothes were given to me here. I’m desperate, we’re desperate”. This Armenian from Haut-Karrabach does not know where he is going to spend the night. He shrugs his shoulders, looking resigned.
According to Nazeli Baghdassarian, the spokesperson for the Armenian Prime Minister, more than 100,000 Armenians 120,000 official inhabitants fled the Nagorno-Karabach enclave after Azerbaijan’s victorious offensive and the decree proclaiming the cessation of existence of the self-proclaimed republic. This predominantly Christian region, which seceded from predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan following the disintegration of the USSR, was in fact opposed to Baku for more than three decades.
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Large tents have been set up by the Red Cross but there is not room for everyone. The humanitarian aid association has requested a little more than 20 million euros to respond to the growing humanitarian needs in the face of this massive exodus which Armenia is absolutely not ready to face.
Navart, 64, originally from Stepanakert, managed to find a place. She is sitting on a chair, wrapped in a blanket. “The priority now is to find shelter, confides the woman. But there isn’t enough to go around. We don’t know what we’re going to do in the days to come.”. At her side, her daughter explains that they no longer want to live near Azerbaijan. “We have been offered accommodation in villages near the borders but we are afraid to settle there because we fear new attacks.”
Every man for himself
Many choose to head north to the capital, Yerevan, about four hours away. This is the case of Tobin who says: “We spent the first night in the car driving. We’re going to try to find something in Yerevan. Something to rent, to stay there for a while. After that, nothing is clear. But we trust in God.”
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This young thirty-year-old with blue eyes does not expect much from the Armenian government which has announced the payment of 100,000 drams, the equivalent of 250 euros, to each refugee. “Apparently, it’s every man for himself. It’s a political question, it’s difficult to answer”he admits.
“What does it mean to give 250 euros to people who have lost their homes and their land?”
Tobin, a refugee from Nagorno-Karabakhat franceinfo
On the town hall square in Goris, an elderly woman who could not find a place in a tent burst into tears. A young Red Cross volunteer takes her in his arms to console her.
Nagorno-Karabakh: report by Timour Ozturk with refugees on their way to Yerevan