The 100 tons of food products donated to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by the ‘Hayastan’ Foundation as an urgent humanitarian aid are currently in Goris. Due to the blocking of the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia by Azerbaijan, it is not possible to deliver it to Artsakh, Artsakh InfoCenter reports. According to the fund, the cargo arrived in Goris at the end of last week.
Haykak Arshamyan (Executive Director of ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund) - They will move to Artsakh at the earliest opportunity.
The content of the cargo is sugar, pasta, rice and buckwheat, this list of food was presented to the Council of Trustees by the government of Artsakh.
Haykak Arshamyan - When we held a meeting with the Council of Trustees, before that we were in constant contact with the Artsakh Government and asked for a list, we exchanged different work lists, now we need everything related to food, but the representation has singled out 4 types of products as the primary need.
40 tons are sugar, the rest are other products. The fund announced the transfer of the burden a few days ago, Arshamyan notes that the money is a donation to the fund, and the fund is accountable to the donors.
Haykak Arshamyan - The lion's share came from the USA, Romania and Argentina also sent money, the Petak.
During the 45 days of the blockade, the Red Cross was able to transport cargo to Artsakh by negotiating with the governments.
Zara Amatuni (Head of Communication and prevention programs of the ICRC Armenian office) - Three times the truck of our organization transported medicine, baby food, the cargo did not belong to us.
It is detailed: the Red Cross works only with governments, and they coordinate what and how much to send.
Zara Amatuni - The first truck was more than 10 tons, we haven't weighed the others, we don't know for sure, we can carry up to 15 tons with trucks, we also transport people, we carry cargo when we return, too.
By the way, since December 19, 48 patients have been transferred, 2 of them are foreigners. In recent days, efforts are being made to reunite families.
Zara Amatuni - 28 people were transferred in two directions for this purpose.
The recent such transfer was on January 24.
Zara Amatuni - 11 people moved to Armenia, and we helped 10 people from Armenia to cross Lachin and go home.
Returning to the 100 tons of cargo in Goris, the Ministry of Social Development and Migration of Artsakh informs that negotiations are underway with the command of the Russian peacekeeping troops to deliver the humanitarian cargo. If it is possible to move it, it will be stored in the ministry, then it will be distributed free of charge to socially vulnerable groups.
Haykak Arshamyan - Although now everyone is already socially insecure, if a person is looking for a product and does not find it, he is already insecure even if he has money.
The Board of Trustees of ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund also called for immediate efforts to launch the Stepakanert airport in order to deliver humanitarian aid by air.
Haykak Arshamyan - We officially sent that statement to the UN Secretary General and the EU.
Zara Amatuni notes that the negotiations with all parties are ongoing, at the moment discussions are being held on various issues, from the transportation of people to the transportation of goods.
Haykak Arshamyan also emphasizes that the communication with the governments of Armenia and Artsakh is continuous, the next aid will be in the form of first-necessity medicine, and it remains for the cargo to arrive. By the way, at this moment in Artsakh, all the housing construction projects implemented by the foundation have also been stopped.
