Nagorno-Karabakh: rights defenders criticize measures to support refugees

Authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh have appointed scanty payments to refugees, while problems of forced migrants need a comprehensive solution, Arthur Sakunts, a human rights defender, believes. Refugees' support is not organized at the proper level, which indicates a crisis in the ruling system, Nina Karapetyants, his colleague, agrees.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 19, Russian peacemakers informed about the return of about 4000 forced migrants to Nagorno-Karabakh via the Lachin Corridor. Not all residents of Karabakh can return to their homes, since part of the territory is transferred under the control of Azerbaijan. Thus, on November 20, villagers from Martakert and Askeran Districts were forced to leave their villages, having managed to pick up only the most necessary things. They have not yet received any temporary housing.

According to Arthur Sakunts, the head of the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly, urgent financial assistance to refugees is needed, but these amounts will not help in solving their problems.

"What can we say about 68,000 drams (about USD 135), if it is necessary to solve the housing and employment problems. People have lost everything. It is absurd to resort to one-time payment; it's the result of irresponsible and inadequate perception of the situation," Mr Sakunts has stressed.

Nina Karapetyants, the head of the Helsinki Association of Armenia, has added that in helping refugees, there are many organizational problems.