Children, women and men must be able to stay in their own homes without fear as well as in peace and dignity. However, thousands are so afraid for their lives that they see no alternative for themselves and their families but to head for Armenia – often only with the bare necessities and in completely overcrowded cars. The numbers are rising by the hour.

We are deeply concerned by the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. No one really knows how people there are faring and what they have to endure. What is needed now is transparency and the eyes and ears of the international community on the ground. Together with our partners, we will do our utmost to send international observers as quickly as possible. Allowing international observers to enter would be a proof of confidence and show that Azerbaijan is serious about its assurances regarding the safety and well-being of the population in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Following the blockade over many months, even initial deliveries of supplies through the Lachin corridor have not ended the shortage of almost everything that is needed to live in dignity: food, medicine or sanitary products. It is important that relief goods reach people reliably and consistently, not only in a piecemeal way. I have decided to substantially increase our humanitarian assistance once again and to raise our additional funding for the International Committee of the Red Cross from two to five million euro.