UN Mission Debuts In Karabakh For First Time In 30 Years

On Sunday, Azerbaijan stated a United Nations mission arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh after nearly the entire ethnic-Armenian population evacuated since Baku reclaimed the separatist province.

According to the Azerbaijani presidency official, a UN mission arrived in Karabakh on Sunday morning to assess humanitarian needs.

The international body has gotten access to the region for the first time in roughly 30 years.

Following a one-day Azerbaijani onslaught last week, the region’s Armenian separatists agreed to disarm, dissolve their government, and reintegrate with Baku.

The failure of Karabakh’s breakaway bid dealt a devastating blow to Armenians’ centuries-old ambition of rejoining what they claim are their ancestral lands, which have been partitioned among regional rulers since the Middle Ages.

Over the next few days, nearly all of Karabakh’s estimated 120,000 population evacuated the territory, triggering a refugee catastrophe.

Armenia held a nationwide day of prayer for the region on Sunday.

Church bells rang out across the nation, while Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, presided over a liturgy in Echmiadzin, close to the nation’s capital Yerevan.

Outside the majestic cathedral made of pale pink marble, clergymen dressed in elaborate robes sang ancient chants at an outdoor altar.

Yerevan urged Armenians to stay in their homes and reintegrate with Azerbaijan where their rights would be respected after accusing Baku of ethnic cleansing, a charge Baku refuted.

The unexpected flood of refugees presents a significant housing dilemma for Armenia, a nation of 2.8 million people.

Authorities reported that 35,000 people were currently in temporary accommodation.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies issued an emergency appeal for 20 million Swiss Francs ($22 million) on Friday to assist people escaping.

Azerbaijan is currently holding re-integration negotiations with separatist leaders while also prominent members from its former government and military command.

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