On 17 May, the European Commission committed an additional €10 million in humanitarian aid to help civilians affected by the recent conflict in and around Nagorno Karabakh, as part of its efforts to strengthen resilience and peacebuilding in the South Caucasus. This brings EU assistance to people in need since the start of the hostilities in September 2020 to over €17 million.
Considering the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, this funding will help to provide emergency assistance including food, hygiene and household items, multi-purpose cash and healthcare. It will also cover protection assistance, including psychosocial support, education in emergency and ensure early recovery assistance through livelihood support. The assistance will benefit the most vulnerable conflict-affected people, including displaced persons, returnees, and host communities. The funding will also ensure humanitarian demining in populated areas and provide mine risk education to affected people.
"Our support will not stop there: the EU continues to work towards a more comprehensive conflict transformation and long-term socio-economic recovery and resilience of the region," said Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi.
All EU humanitarian funding is provided based on needs and in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, as enshrined in EU and international law. It is delivered in partnership with UN agencies, international organizations, and NGOs.
The recent military confrontation including Armenia and Azerbaijan, which raged unabated for six weeks, has caused casualties, damages, and displacement of the local population. The fighting pushed hundreds of thousands to flee their homes for safety, of which some remain displaced and will not be able to return to their homes in the long-term.
