The humanitarian situation in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) caused by Azerbaijan’s blockade is worsening by hours with patients dying because of not receiving medical aid on time․

The Public Radio of Artsakh reported that there have also been incidents when women had to terminate pregnancy at an early stage due to malnutrition and stress.

Mesrop Margaryan, the head of the resuscitation and intensive therapy department at Arevik medical unit, said that there have been cases when children are brought to hospital late with doctors unable to do much to help them.

"The deepening crisis in the healthcare sector is already leaving visible consequences. Failure to receive timely medical care has resulted in deaths, early termination of pregnancy due to stress, malnutrition, and deteriorating health conditions among children due to lack of appropriate medication,” he said.

Nagorno Karabakh has been in blockade by Azerbaijan for more than seven months now with its residents deprived of necessities. Armenia has sent about 360 humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabakh but Azerbaijan would not allow it to enter the county.

Mesrop Margaryan further said that planned surgeries have been cancelled, due to fuel shortage there are problems with the transportation of patients as well.

Further he informed that two of the 23 children receiving treatment in the intensive care unit are diagnosed with Leishmaniasis – a disease transmitted to humans through the bite of insects of the Lutzomyia longipalpis species.

If the patients do not receive timely and proper treatment, there is a high risk of death, he explained, adding that previously such patients would be transported to Armenia, but now there is no such opportunity.

The doctor said that as of July 25 the public transport in the country has completely stopped operating which has made it hard for medical personnel as they have to walk to work now. Due to the lack of fuel, emergency vehicles are sent to bring patients to hospital only in extreme cases.