Statement of the delegation of the Republic of Armenia at the 73rd Session of the Resumed World Health Assembly

10 November, 2020

73^rd Session of the Resumed World Health Assembly

Committee A

Item 13.2

Delivered by Arsen Kotanjyan, Second Secretary, Alternate

Mr. Chairperson,

We would like to draw the attention of colleagues to the humanitarian disaster caused by the aggression of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, with an apparent objective of the conquest and to ethnic cleansing of its Armenian population. The right of life and health were grossly violated by Azerbaijan.

From day one of the war Azerbaijan has deliberately targeted the civilian population and infrastructure. Even the civilian hospitals, including child and maternity care centers, schools, religious sites and markets were not spared. The residential areas have been bombed by internationally banned cluster munition, and this was confirmed by the on-site investigation of the Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch. The use of the internationally banned phosphorus bombs over the forest terrain in Artsakh specifically intended to add an environmental disaster to the unfolding humanitarian one. Such weapons are notorious in causing thermal burns and respiratory damages.

As a consequence of the aggression 51 civilians were killed in Artsakh, 146 wounded and more than 13.100 households and 2.700 civilian infrastructure destroyed. The casualties among servicemen exceed 1000 and there are numerous wounded soldiers. The medical systems of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh which have been already overburdened by the considerable rise of the COVID-19 cases face a serious challenge in coping with this unprecedented challenge.

There are tens of thousands of displaced people, many of them need immediate medical, including psychological care. For more than a month many people survived in basements and bomb shelters in dire sanitary conditions experiencing scarcity of food, water, and medicine. The COVID-19 and other diseases are wide-spreading. This is a humanitarian catastrophe. Once thriving and vibrant cities have been turned into ruins. Azerbaijan obviously pursues the objective of creating unbearable conditions for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and forcing them out of their homeland.

The statement on the cessation of hostilities was signed last night. There is an imminent need of medical aid and subsequently the rebuilding of health care facilities in Nagorno-Karabakh to meet the requirements of the people.

Due to the consequences of the war situation the COVID-19 pandemic widely spread and today we have around 109000 cases confirmed with over 66.000 recoveries and 1609 deaths. Around 40.000 patients with COVID-19 currently undergo treatment.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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