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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
Armenia and Azerbaijan

Introduction

The 6-week-long 2020 war in and around Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in severe consequences for the inhabitants of the region. 

In 2023, the escalation and subsequent ceasefire led to the exodus of almost the entire Armenian population from the Karabakh enclave.

Today, thousands of displaced Karabakh Armenians require humanitarian aid in Armenia, and few people also in the Karabakh region, as some of the most vulnerable people have not managed to leave. 

What are the needs?

As a result of Azerbaijan’s military operation in September 2023 in Nagorno-Karabakh and of the previous months-long blockage of the Lachin corridor, more than 100,000 Karabakh Armenians fled to Armenia. 

The 6-week-long war in 2020 had also repercussions in Armenia, where border areas with Azerbaijan faced regular exchange of hostilities. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has triggered a displacement crisis in the region, leaving thousands of people in need of basic support like shelter, food assistance and access to health.

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How are we helping?

In response to the escalation of hostilities and thousands of people fleeing from Karabakh in September 2023, the EU provided over €12 million in humanitarian aid to support the most vulnerable. In 2024, the EU strengthened its humanitarian operations in Armenia with additional €5.5 million.

With this funding, the EU aims to assist the few vulnerable people left inside the Karabakh region and those who have sought refuge in Armenia. Our funding will ensure they receive access to basic needs, health care, shelter, food, livelihoods assistance and protection.

Since the outbreak of the war in and around Nagorno Karabakh in 2020, the European Commission has allocated in total €38.4 million in humanitarian aid to provide emergency support to the affected people.

 

EU humanitarian assistance includes:

  • food
  • hygiene and household items
  • multi-purpose cash assistance
  • shelter
  • education in emergencies
  • health and psychosocial support
  • medical equipment
  • other urgent assistance. 

 

The EU’s humanitarian relief operations have addressed early recovery aid to help conflict-affected people rebuild their lives by providing vocational training. These operations also ensured much-needed humanitarian demining in populated areas and has provided mine risk education to people at risk. 

With Armenia's harsh winters, providing vulnerable refugees with living conditions that protects them from the cold, such as warm clothing and brickettes for heating is still an urgent need to this day.

EU humanitarian funding is provided in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. 

The European Commission also plays a key role in facilitating humanitarian coordination and information sharing among various organisations, including donors, authorities, and humanitarian partners. 

Embedded in the Nexus approach strengthening humanitarian, development and peace sectors, the EU humanitarian aid is complementary to the support to the conflict-affected populations provided by the respective governments, the European Delegation in Armenia and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR).

Last updated: 28/10/2024

Facts & figures

196,000 people need humanitarian aid due to the escalation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenia Refugee Response Plan)

EU humanitarian funding: 
€5.5 million in 2024 for Armenia
€32.9 million since 2020