SYDNEY: New South Wales State Member for Prospect, Dr Hugh McDermott MP, has risen in the state parliament's Legislative Assembly to warn the international community, including Australia, that failure to take immediate action against Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh will leave humanity with “blood on its hands”, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
The statement was the latest of many expressing concern over the grim humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and what McDermott called an “existential crisis for survival”.
McDermott, a member of the Australian Friends of Artsakh network and the only current New South Wales Parliamentarian to have visited the Republic of Artsakh, accurately documented the unbearable living conditions the 120,000 indigenous Armenians are currently facing.
He said, “The blockade has completely stopped the flow of aid in the form of food, fuel, medical supplies and humanitarian relief to Artsakh. Water reservoirs are quickly drying up, and there are reports of remote villages with access to electricity for only two hours a day. Ninety per cent of the food in Artsakh was imported from Armenia. As a result of this blockade, since January civilians have been given food coupons to purchase limited supplies of pasta, buckwheat, rice, sugar, oil, fruit, vegetables and eggs.”
“Artsakh is home to 118 educational institutions, all of which at one point or another have been forced to shut due to the lack of electricity or heating for children as young as five, restricting their right to an education.”
McDermott concluded the statement with praise for the people of Artsakh, who remain committed to their right to self-determination.
He said, “I want to stand with my community by speaking directly to the people of Artsakh from this parliament. I acknowledge your strength, power and resilience. No matter what the barbaric regime of Azerbaijani has thrown at you over the last three decades, you remain committed to a life in the mountains.”
“To Gayane Asrababayan, a mother in Artsakh who just gave birth to three newborn triplets, Heny, Taro and Tiran, your family remains in our prayers. This Parliament and the people of New South Wales will continue to stand with you, so you can one day raise your children in a safe, free, democratic and independent Artsakh,” concluded McDermott.
