The coupon system will be expanded to include new food and essential products with new coupons being issued starting February 18
Due to severe food shortages, the Government of Artsakh has implemented a coupon system to ensure a fair distribution of essential food products.
Artsakh residents can purchase sugar, rice, buckwheat, pasta, oil, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and laundry detergent from stores in Stepanakert and the regions, in accordance with government-set timelines.
We Are Our Mountains allocates 600 million drams in aid for blockaded Artsakh
Through the aid, wood-burning stoves were provided to 700 families in Stepanakert and diesel generators and electric batteries were purchased and installed for the water supply system serving Stepanakert and the regions. The generators are important for the uninterrupted functioning of the system in the absence of a stable electricity supply.
The We Are Our Mountains regional development agency has also purchased and received from its partner organizations food products which are already in Goris and expected to be transported to Artsakh in the near future.
Within three months, the agency has implemented a number of programs aimed at serving the essential needs of the people of Artsakh and providing approximately 600 million AMD (over 1.5 million USD) in aid, thanks to more than 150 donors. The agency was founded by Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.
Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan met with members of the United Motherland faction of the Artsakh National Assembly
The parties discussed issues relating to the military-political situation in Artsakh and the socio-economic problems arising from the blockade, which has been ongoing since December 12, 2022.
President Harutyunyan presented the steps being taken by the administration to surmount the current difficulties. A special reference was made to the President’s proposed constitutional amendment. Mr. Harutyunyan emphasized the need for internal stability during the present circumstances and the key role of the parliament in that matter.
State Minister and Head of the Operational Headquarters Ruben Vardanyan called an expansive consultative meeting
The State Minister presented the completed and planned activities of his 100 days in office, noting that 67 of those days have been during the blockade.
The State Minister presented in detail the basis of the government’s activities, the existing challenges, current priorities, and the primary directions in which efforts have been made and must continue. He also spoke about risks and work that has not been carried out. The above-mentioned information can be found here.
Update of daily statistics
4 children are in the neonatal and intensive care units of the children’s hospital.
9 adult patients are in the intensive care unit, 4 of whom are in critical condition.
267 children have been born under the blockade.
About 670 people have been deprived of the opportunity to receive necessary medical treatment due to suspensions of planned surgeries in all medical facilities of Artsakh.
As of today, 105 patients have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia to receive appropriate medical care with the mediation and accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
755 business entities (17.7% of the total) have suspended their activities due to the impossible operating conditions under the blockade, while the remaining operate partially or with state support.
At least 5,100 people have lost jobs and sources of income as a result of the impact on the economy.
More than 27,200 tons of vital supplies, which would have been delivered during the period of the blockade, have not reached Artsakh. Only a meager amount has since been delivered by the ICRC and the Russian peacekeeping forces.
Key facts
For 69 days, the 120,000 people of Artsakh have been held hostage by a terroristic blockade carried out by agents of the Azerbaijani government.
As a result of the blockade, the 120,000 people of Artsakh, including about 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly, and 9,000 people with disabilities, are suffering numerous hardships and face a high risk of malnutrition and frostbite, among other rights violations.
41 kindergartens, 56 preschool groups, and 20 day schools have been closed or partially operating since January 9 due to the worsening food shortage under the blockade.
6,828 children are either no longer able to attend school at all or unable to attend on a daylong basis, thereby being deprived of the opportunity to receive appropriate education and care.
Since the beginning of the blockade, many countries and international organizations have condemned Azerbaijan’s actions and called for the lifting of the blockade. The issue was also discussed in the UN Security Council, the European Court of Human Rights obliged Azerbaijan to take all necessary and sufficient measures to end the blockade, and the issue will soon be discussed in the UN’s International Court of Justice (The Hague) within the proceedings of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade of Artsakh.
https://mailchi.mp/240e30204249/day69en
