Azerbaijan

Nagorno-Karabakh has been a long-time disputed area between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The war that lasted from 1988 to 1994 killed more than 25,000 soldiers and civilians and resulted in the displacement over one million people?.

In September 2020, heavy fighting broke out again between Azeri and Armenian forces in and around the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict lasted six weeks, until Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a Russia-brokered ceasefire. The conflict resulted in 140 civilian deaths, over 560 civilians injured, and over 90,000 displaced (88% being women and children) ?. As at December 2021, over 20,000 people were still displaced and registered as “refugee-like” in Armenia?.

Cities in Azerbaijan were also hit by shelling during 2020 conflict, causing casualties and damaging civilian infrastructure. According to the Government of Azerbaijan, 40,000 people in the country have been displaced by the conflict as at November 2020. The humanitarian consequences remain unclear, with significant information gaps on the needs caused by the fighting?.

On 27 September 2022, renewed hostilities between the two countries in Nagorno-Karabakh caused 207 people to die or go missing. The fighting, which lasted one day, displaced some 7,600 people. It also resulted in 92 homes, two schools, and one hospital damaged?. The conflict in September 2022 affected  mainly people living in the three regions (marzes) of Syunik, Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor in Armenia ?.

Nagorno-Karabakh was recognised as part of Azerbaijan but is de facto controlled by an ethnic Armenian administration. Under the ceasefire provisions, Armenia returned Aghdam, Kelbajar, and Lachin districts, as well as parts of Gazakh district, to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan maintains control over the territory gained in Nagorno-Karabakh during the latest conflict. Russian peacekeepers were deployed in the remaining areas of Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor that connects Stepanakert to Armenia ?.