Seriously ill patients in Nagorno-Karabakh can not be transported to Armenia due to Azerbaijan's blockade

YEREVAN, December 27. /ARKA/. Ten patients of the National Medical Center in Nagorno-Karabakh are in the intensive care unit, five of whom are in an extremely serious condition, the Nagorno-Karabakh Health Ministry said today.

Because of the blockade of the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia by large groups of Azerbaijanis, planned surgeries have been suspended.

"Eleven children and four newborn babies are still in the intensive care unit at Arevik medical center. A 4-month-old baby, who was diagnosed with life-threatening disease, was transported earlier to Armenia by the ICRC. The baby receives treatment at a specialized medical center in Armenia. His health condition is stabilizing," the ministry said.

Nagorno-Karabakh's 120,000 people are running short of food, medicines and fuel as a result of the full-blown humanitarian crisis orchestrated by Azerbaijan.

The Lachin corridor, which is the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia has been blocked by Azerbaijanis since December 12. Some 1,100 people, including 270 children, are cut off from their homes.

On December 13 Azerbaijan cut off natural gas supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, but resumed them on December 16. -0-