Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The overall programme goal ist to protect and assist people affected by the conflict and to scale up operations in response to the situation on the ground.

Expected results

The ICRC aims to achieve the following results per its assistance sub-programme in Berg-Karabakh:

- Monitoring and meeting protection concerns of people affected by the conflict, esp. in respect to International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

- Vital health services have been reinforced, among others providing material, supplies and medicines for 20 hospitals, located on both sides of the line of contact, power provision for Nagorno-Karabakh’s main hospital and other health facilities, covering a total of 150 beds;

- Essential needs of conflict affected people are met, by among others providing food supplies for around 20,000 people, providing hygiene kits for around 30,000 people, providing cash-grants to up to 70,000 People where markets are functioning, conducting infrastructure improvements for 150,000 people in shelters as well as take measures to curb spread of COVID-19, supporting 400 People in house-repairs;

- People have been kept safe from fighting and explosive remnants of war (ERW).

Target group / Beneficiaries

With a contribution of EUR 1 Mio. the ICRC can reach a total of 17,500 people with the following results:

- Essential needs of conflict affected people are met:

1) 15,000 people will be covered with food parcels. The received goods shall cover the people’s basic needs for one month;

2) 2,500 people will be provided with cash assistance to help them purchase essential goods that can last them one to two months.

The ICRC works in close cooperation with other RCRC movement parters and targets the entire population in Nagorno-Karabakh as well as people along the Line of Contact with its activities.

Activities

The ICRC plans to undertake the following activities under the Austrian contribution:

- Coordinate activities with respective authorities and actors on the ground;

- Select beneficiaries under the aspect of ensuring to serve the most vulnerable among the affected population;

- Distribute food parcels in a safe and efficient manner;

- Identify most feasible and safe ways to provide cash to the most affected population;

- Support households with cash using context-suitable means and guaranteeing safe delivery.

Context

On the 27th of September 2020, the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh escalated with clashes erupting along the line of contact. Hostilities have also taken place, occasionally, near the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since the beginning of the fighting, civilian casualties have been reported on both sides of the line of contact. There has further been extensive damage to public infrastructure and health facilities, shops providing food and other essentials are either also damaged or closed. Explosive Remnants of War pose a serious threat to the civilian population and a lasting threat in areas affected by shelling. At the same time, the clashes came at the onset of winter and during a time where people’s life is already negatively affected by COVID-19. Since the 10th of November, a ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is intact, facilitated by the Russian Federation. As the fighting has stopped, people from the disputed regions are considering whether it is possible to return to their homes or not. The needs in temporary shelters therefore remains for the time being.