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The Artsakh government has provided updates on the situation in the country as the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan entered the 57th day on Monday 6 February.

According to the Artsakh Ministry of Health, 204 children were born in Artsakh maternity hospitals during the blockade. As a result of Azerbaijan’s ongoing blockade and campaign of terror against the population of Artsakh, newborns and their mothers face serious issues daily stemming from shortages of baby food, diapers, medicine, and other basic necessities.

The transfer of patients from Artsakh to Armenia continues to be carried out exclusively through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross. As of February 5, a total of 70 patients have been transported from Artsakh to Armenia by the ICRC.

The State Revenue Committee of Artsakh reported that according to preliminary data, 1,902.3 million drams in tax revenues and duties were deposited into the state budget of the Republic of Artsakh in the month of January 2023, which was 32.1% less than the projected amount of 2,800.0 million drams and 28.5% less than the amount collected during the same period last year.

The deficit is due to the economic issues resulting from the blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan since December 12, 2022, in particular, by the termination of the business activities and the corresponding absence of tax liabilities of a number of taxpayers.

Update of daily statistics

• 6 children are in the neonatal and intensive care units of the children’s hospital.

• 9 adult patients are in the intensive care unit, 4 of whom are in critical condition.

• 204 children have been born under the blockade.

• 580 people have been deprived of the opportunity to receive necessary medical treatment due to suspensions of planned surgeries in all medical facilities of Artsakh.

• As of now, 70 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia to receive appropriate medical care with the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

• At least 5,100 people have lost jobs and sources of income as a result of the impact on the economy.

• More than 22,400 tons of vital supplies, which would have been delivered during the period of the blockade, have not reached Artsakh. Only a meager amount has since been delivered by the ICRC and the Russian peacekeeping forces.

Key facts

• For 57 days, the 120,000 people of Artsakh have been held hostage by a terroristic blockade carried out by agents of the Azerbaijani government.

• As a result of the blockade, the 120,000 people of Artsakh, including about 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly, and 9,000 people with disabilities, are suffering numerous hardships and face a high risk of malnutrition and frostbite, among other rights violations.

• 41 kindergartens and 20 day schools have been closed since January 9 due to the worsening food shortage under the blockade.

• 5,528 children are no longer able to attend kindergarten and are being deprived of the opportunity to receive proper care and nutrition.

Since the beginning of the blockade, many countries and international organizations have condemned Azerbaijan’s actions and called for the lifting of the blockade. The issue was also discussed in the UN Security Council, the European Court of Human Rights obliged Azerbaijan to take all necessary and sufficient measures to end the blockade, and the issue will soon be discussed in the UN’s International Court of Justice (The Hague) within the proceedings of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade of Artsakh.