UN High Commissioner: Over 100,000 Refugees Arrived in Armenia

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, stated that "more than 100,000 refugees have arrived in Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh." He noted, "The UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian partners are intensifying support for the Armenian authorities, but international assistance is urgently needed." Italy indicated that Armenia requested the European Union to provide temporary shelters and medical supplies to help cope with the refugees. Independent journalist Siranush Sargsyan, who reports on the fleeing Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, told Reuters that thousands are stuck on the mountainous highway leading to Armenia, with their belongings piled in cars. She added that many are in need of urgent medical care, saying, "As you can see, we are still stuck on the road." She considered the "mass displacement unbearable as we have spent 16 hours on this road. It seems we will not be able to reach the border within the next twenty-four hours." On the 19th of this month, Azerbaijan announced the launch of "counter-terrorism operations" targeting Armenian forces in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, just hours after six Azerbaijani citizens were killed in separate landmine explosions. It was reported that Azerbaijan had taken control of more than 60 Armenian army sites.