UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: Nagorno-Karabakh ICRC
/
2:03
/
MP4
/
151.9 MB

Edited News | UNITED NATIONS

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing: Nagorno-Karabakh ICRC

As heavy fighting continues to be reported along the line of contact in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region having caused huge human suffering, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize arrangements in order to facilitate the handover of bodies of those killed and to handle the release of detainees.

A fragile humanitarian ceasefire, brokered by Russia, went into effect on Saturday but was almost immediately broken, with both Armenian and Azerbaijan accusing each other of fresh attacks.

Speaking at a news conference today at the United Nations in Geneva, Martin Schüepp, ICRC Eurasia Regional Director said that “it is our hope that the humanitarian ceasefire agreement will be abided by and that it will translate into meaningful relief for those affected. As such, the International Committee of the Red Cross remains ready to facilitate the hand-over of bodies of those killed in action or the release of detainees. The sides, however, need to agree on a format between themselves”.

Since the latest violence erupted in late September, artillery strikes have reportedly hit a number of cities, towns and villages. The disputed territory, home to about 150,000 people, is an ethnic Armenian enclave and is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan by all countries, including Armenia. But the people of Nagorno-Karabakh – an overwhelming majority of whom are ethnic Armenians- want to govern themselves or to join Armenia.

Since the ICRC started working in connection with the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict in 1992, the organization has repeatedly helped authorities with such operations. ”Subsequent to this agreement in Moscow, we have continued to be in contact with the sides proposing our services as a neutral intermediary to facilitate the exchange of bodies or – if agreed by the parties – of course also of prisoners”, said ICRC’s Martin Schüepp.

Currently, the organization has roughly 200 staff throughout the region, half of them on both sides of the line of contact and they are trying to bring in additional staff.

Their focus is on the plight of civilians affected by the fighting, said Martin Schüepp. “We estimate that already hundreds of thousands of people across the region are directly or indirectly affected. Civilians are dying or suffering live changing injuries. Homes, businesses and once busy streets are being reduced to rubble”.

ICRC is currently trying to make an assessment. However, the security situation and the continued fighting has limited the access to all the areas.

”In terms of our humanitarian response, we are working throughout the region to ease the suffering of those caught up in this. We are, for example, distributing emergency cash assistance or hygiene kits to hundreds of families, we are providing emergency medical kits to hospitals and forensic support to authorities, and we are trying to do field assessments wherever we can”, Martin Schüepp said.

Today the World Health Organisation has informed that both countries have seen an increase in Covid-19 cases: Armenia’s numbers have doubled over the past week and the numbers of infected people in Azerbaijan increased by 80 % over last week.

  1. Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a cloudy day.
  2. Wide shot, press briefing room
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Martin Schüepp, ICRC Eurasia Regional Director: “We estimate that already hundreds of thousands of people across the region are directly or indirectly affected. Civilians are dying or suffering live changing injuries. Homes, businesses and once busy streets are being reduced to rubble”.
  4. Medium, podium in press room from below
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) - Martin Schüepp, ICRC Eurasia Regional Director: ”Subsequent to this agreement in Moscow, we have continued to be in contact with the sides proposing our services as a neutral intermediary to facilitate the exchange of bodies or – if agreed by the parties – of course also of prisoners”.
  6. Medium shot, journalists in press room
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) - Martin Schüepp, ICRC Eurasia Regional Director:” It is our hope that the humanitarian ceasefire agreement will be abided by and that it will translate into meaningful relief for those affected. As such, the International Committee of the Red Cross remains ready to facilitate the hand over of bodies of those killed in action or the release of detainees. The sides, however, need to agree on a format between themselves”.
  8. Wide shot, press briefing room
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) - Martin Schüepp, ICRC Eurasia Regional Director:” In terms of our humanitarian response, we are working throughout the region to ease the suffering of those caught up in this. We are, for example, distributing emergency cash assistance or hygiene kits to hundreds of families, we are providing emergency medical kits to hospitals and forensic support to authorities, and we are trying to do field assessments wherever we can”.
  10. Medium shot, podium and screen on the side
  11. Medium shot, camerawoman
  12. Medium shot, podium

Similar Stories

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO

1

12

1

1

Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO ENG FRA

UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science

No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.

Gaza aid update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Gaza aid update - WFP ENG FRA

Gazans’ response to food distributions ‘overwhelming’ as humanitarians scale up under fragile ceasefire

In Gaza, the ceasefire is enabling UN humanitarians to reach more desperate people with life-saving food, but greater access is needed to contain the spread of famine.

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP , OCHA

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025 ENG FRA

UN urges opening of all Gaza crossings to deliver three-month food supply

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned food aid cannot reach everyone in Gaza unless all border crossings are opened, particularly in the north where famine was declared in August. The agency says it already has enough supplies in place to feed the entire population of the Strip for three months – if full access is granted by Israel.

Gaza update – UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC 14 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNDP , UNICEF , OCHA , ICRC

Gaza update – UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, ICRC 14 October 2025 ENG FRA

Around $70 billion will be needed to reconstruct Gaza and make it safe after two years of war, UN development experts said on Tuesday, while aid agencies reported that far too little aid continues to reach  desperate Palestinians.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado: reaction from UN rights office

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Machado: reaction from UN rights office ENG FRA

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday welcomed the Nobel Peace Prize committee’s decision to name Maria Machado as this year’s laureate, in recognition of her work promoting the Venezuelan people’s democratic hopes.

Gaza ceasefire agreement – UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO 10 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza ceasefire agreement – UNRWA, UNICEF, WHO 10 October 2025 ENG FRA

As Gazans jammed the main route leading north on Friday after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced, UN aid teams repeated their call to open all crossings into the devastated enclave to prevent famine spreading.

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF , WHO

Gaza - Israel war 7 October 2025 - OCHA - UNICEF - WHO ENG FRA

Two years of Gaza-Israel war bring ‘indescribable’ pain: UN humanitarians

Two years since the Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel, UN humanitarians on Tuesday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire and an aid surge to alleviate Palestinians’ suffering, as talks on a US-driven peace plan continued in Egypt.

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.