Karabakh: A United Nations mission arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday, Azerbaijan said, after almost the entire ethnic-Armenian population fled since Baku recaptured the breakaway enclave.
An Azerbaijani presidency spokesman told AFP that a “UN mission arrived in Karabakh on Sunday morning” — mainly to assess humanitarian needs.
It marks the first time in about 30 years that the international body has gained access to the region.
Armenian separatists, who had controlled the region for three decades, agreed to disarm, dissolve their government and reintegrate with Baku following a one-day Azerbaijani offensive last week.
France has lashed out at Azerbaijan for only allowing the UN mission in after most residents had already fled.
The end of Karabakh’s separatist bid dealt a heavy blow to a centuries-old dream by Armenians of reuniting what they say are their ancestral lands, divided among regional powers since the Middle Ages.
Nearly all of Karabakh’s estimated 120,000 residents fled the territory over the following days, sparking a refugee crisis.
An AFP journalist at a border crossing along the Lachin corridor that links Karabakh with Armenia, saw only one car arrive from the now deserted enclave.
Sergei Astsaryan, 40, said he was among the last Armenians to leave the region.
“I have no idea of where to go, maybe Europe,” he told AFP, adding however that he hoped many of the refugees would return if Azerbaijan “gives guaranties, provides help.”
“I’ve talked to Azerbaijani police and they said there would be no problems if we want to return, that we can live in our homes.”
Nazeli Baghdasaryan, spokeswoman of the Armenian prime minister, said “100,483 forcefully displaced persons arrived in Armenia” by Sunday morning.
She said 45,516 refugees were now in temporary accommodation. (Agencies)
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