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"The key concern in terms of the humanitarian challenges in Nagorno Karabakh is the lack of humanitarian access to Nagorno Karabakh proper," Martin Taschner, Head of Southeast Europe and Eastern Neighborhood Unit of the EU's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations said. His remarks came on Monday during the discussion devoted to the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh at the European Parliament Development Commission meeting. 

Taschner briefed on the financial assistance delivered by the European Union to the region since 2020 when the military actions broke out and the only mechanism to deliver the assistance was through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Channels.    

"For the time being not only physically but legally accepted access by parties is still a significant concern and subject to further political consultations, including at the highest level," Mr Taschner said. 

It was stressed  that the Covid-19 pandemic had also an impact on the humanitarian situation in the region. "Overall, we see that around 100 thousand people are in need of assistance, 40,000 people in need of assistance in Armenia, some 45 thousand people  - in Nagorno-Karabakh and 15 thousand  - in Azerbaijan." 

Martin Taschner outlined the issue with shelter for those displaced from the Nagorno Karabakh region as one of the most pressing topics in Armenia, while in Azerbaijan the de-mining issues are particularly acute.