Shortage of stationery and lack of transportation in Artsakh ahead of new schooling year

YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Due to more than 8 month-long blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by Azerbaijan there is a big shortage of stationery, educational materials, food, hygiene items and lack of transportation ahead of a new schooling year that begins on September 1, Artsakh Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Norayr Mkrtchyan told a special meeting convened today by State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan

Nersisyan stressed that a comprehensive analysis of the existing problems should be made and all steps should be taken not to jeopardize the health of the children in the current difficult conditions without neglecting the obligation of the state to ensure their right to education.

After the discussion, the State Minister gave a number of instructions to the authorized bodies emphasizing the necessity of daily monitoring and analysis of the situation.

For more than eight months now, 120,000 Armenians in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) have been under complete blockade of Azerbaijan with no food, medicine, fuel, gas or electricity.

The Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia and the rest of the world was initially blocked by Azerbaijani government-sponsored fake “eco-activists” on December 12, 2022.

Azerbaijan officially institutionalized the blockage of the road by an illegal checkpoint installation on April 23, 2023, grossly violating its international obligations.

Azerbaijan continues to demonstrate a wilful disregard for the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, the ECHR ruling of December 21, 2023, as well as ICJ orders issued on February 22 and July 6, 2023, calling on Azerbaijan to urgently “take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.” -0-