UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric announced today that a UN team in Azerbaijan did not observe any damage to civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, housing, or cultural and religious sites in Nagorno-Karabakh. The team visited the capital of Karabakh, known as Stepanakert in Armenia and Khankendi in Azerbaijan, on Sunday. This visit came after weeks of Azerbaijani forces taking control of the enclave inhabited by Armenians, leading to the mass exodus of over 100,000 Armenians.
Dujarric told reporters that his colleagues were struck by the sudden way the local population fled their homes and the suffering caused by this experience. He added that the UN team had not received "any reports, either from local residents or others, of violence against civilians following the latest ceasefire." He went on to say that UN members did not witness any destruction of agricultural infrastructure or dead animals.
Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing, a claim denied by Baku, which asserted its welcome for Armenians wishing to remain in the area. Baku emphasized that it does not intend to attack Armenia itself. Armenia urged the European Union on Monday to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan due to its military operation in the Karabakh enclave, warning that Baku may soon attack Armenia if the West does not take decisive action.
Dujarric stated that the UN mission aims to assess the situation on the ground and determine the humanitarian needs of both residents and those who have left. He noted that there were no open stores in the city and that Azerbaijan is preparing to resume health services and some basic facilities in the area.
