Armenia reported on Saturday that more than 100,000 people have fled Nagorno-Karabakh, effectively depopulating the ethnic Armenian enclave after Azerbaijan regained control.
Nazeli Baghdasaryan, spokesperson for Armenia’s prime minister, confirmed that over the past week, the number of refugees entering Armenia had reached 100,417.
This mass exodus follows the sudden defeat of the Armenian enclave, which had been engaged in a decades-long struggle against Azerbaijani rule. Previously estimated to have a population of 120,000, the region fell to Baku in a rapid offensive last week, bringing an apparent end to the long-standing conflict.
The ethnic Armenian authorities in the self-proclaimed republic officially declared their cessation of existence after agreeing to surrender and relinquish their weaponry.
Artak Beglaryan, a former separatist official, indicated that “the last groups” of Nagorno-Karabakh residents were en route to Armenia on Saturday. He noted that only a few hundred individuals, including officials, emergency service personnel, volunteers, and individuals with special needs, were expected to remain.
This mass migration of people has significantly altered the historical ethnic composition of the disputed region. Yerevan has accused Azerbaijan of conducting an “ethnic cleansing” campaign to remove the Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh, a charge that Baku vehemently denies. Azerbaijan has urged the Armenian residents of the territory to stay and “reintegrate” into Azerbaijani society.
The United Nations announced plans to dispatch a mission to Nagorno-Karabakh over the weekend, primarily to assess humanitarian requirements. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric noted that the organization had not had access to the region in approximately three decades.
Armenia has also requested urgent measures from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to safeguard the enclave’s inhabitants. The ICJ disclosed that Yerevan urged the court to prevent Azerbaijan from displacing the remaining ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and to facilitate the safe and speedy return of those who have already fled.
In response to the humanitarian crisis, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies initiated an emergency appeal for 20 million Swiss Francs ($22 million) to assist those who are fleeing the conflict zone.