Azerbaijan and Armenia: Working to help people left behind in their homes

Teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross are working to find people still in their homes after tens of thousands of people left the region.

ICRC teams used megaphones to let people who may be bedridden or otherwise stuck in their homes that humanitarian assistance was available for those who needed help with food, water, medicines or to be moved to a different location.

In neighbouring Armenia, new arrivals were in need of food, water, shelter, medicine and mobile phone connections to contact loved ones they had become separated from.

 “Our teams are working across the region to do whatever they can, including to reconnect families,” said ICRC spokesman Matt Morris.

 One woman who shared her story of leaving her home said her family of 13 left with nothing but documents and the clothes they were wearing.

“And now I have nothing, (I) do not know where to take these children,” the woman said. “I am all confused, don’t know how to take care of them. I have a tumour myself, two of my grandsons have periodontal disease.”

For further information please contact:

Matthew Morris, ICRC London, +44 7753 809 471  mmorris@icrc.org

SHOTLIST Location: Azerbaijan and Armenia

 Camera: Various

 Filming Dates: October 2-5, 2023

Length: 04:13 Copyright: ICRC access all

On Screen Credit: ICRC written or logo attached to story

0:00 – 00:40  ICRC teams use megaphones to tell people who may be bedridden or otherwise stuck in their homes that humanitarian assistance is available.

 Megaphone: “Is there anyone in the building? If there's anyone, please look out of your window or balcony.”

Video voice over: “So here is how we are looking for people that remained and cannot move out. He says, go out to your balconies if you want to go. No one is left, the last people..."

00:41 – 01:24

 An elderly woman named Susana, a cancer patient, is evacuated from her home, transported by ambulance. She lived alone and unable to get out of her bed. She also recently underwent colostomy surgery, she had signs of mild dehydration, anemia, and malnutrition. Neighbors had left her with food and water several days beforehand, but her supplies were running low. She had finished all her medication and could not take care of herself.

SOUNBITE, Matthew Morris, ICRC. Goris, Armenia

01:24 – 01:56

“People first arrived here in Goris, Armenia after leaving their homes. Food, and water, shelter, medicine and hygiene items were some of the first urgent needs. But also fuel for vehicles, cash or sim cards in order to contact loved ones.

Many are now moving on to friends or family elsewhere. But others remain here. Hotels and homes have been full. Whether people stayed or whether they left their homes, our teams are working right now across the region to do whatever they can, including to reconnect families.”

01:56 – 02:06

 Vehicles are seen loaded with personal items in front of the Goris Hotel in Goris, Armenia.

People who fled to Armenia are staying in hotels and homes of friends and family.

 02:06 – 02:15

An ICRC car in front of the Goris Hotel in Goris, Armenia.

02:15 – 02:26

Armenia Red Cross staff do arts and crafts activities with children of families who have fled to Armenia in the Goris Hotel in Goris, Armenia. People who fled are staying in hotels and homes of friends and family.

SOUNDBITE, Margarit Sahakyan. Goris, Armenia.

02:26:06 – 02:34:26

Family of 13, seven children and nothing else, we had only the clothes we were wearing, we did not manage to take anything with us.

02:34:27 – 02:47:13

I don’t know what to do now.

And here we are now: left with nothing.

People are helping us here: assistance, clothes and food, we thank for hosting us here.

 02:47:14 - 03:22:01

And now I have nothing, do not know where to take these children.

 I am all confused, don’t know how to take care of them.

I have a tumor myself, two of my grandsons have periodontal disease.

Only the medicine from Germany helps.

I brought them to Yerevan twice a year to receive the medicines.

Now that's a problem too․

 I may have asked for the medicine from Yerevan. What about me?

 I have a tumor on my spleen. How long can I live to provide for my grandchildren?

03:22:02 - 03:32:23

We are in need for everything. I fled just like this.

Thanks God, we have been provided with some items, the people are kind to us at this hotel.

 03:32:23 - 04:06:11

The red cross helped us a lot, at first the girls gave us medicine.

They asked what we needed, what medicine we needed.

We were provided with clothes, sweets for the children.

They accompanied us on the way from Kornidzor to Goris.

They fed our children, sweets and stuff, the people from Red Cross.

Until yesterday Red Cross was helping us, providing clothes, blankets.

04:06:12 – 04:13:04

Margarit Sahakyan’s family eats at a restaurant in Goris, Armenia.

Ends