{"id":9737,"date":"2023-10-01T16:22:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-01T16:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/un-mission-arrives-n-karabakh-first-visit-in-30-years-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-10-01T16:22:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-01T16:22:10","slug":"un-mission-arrives-n-karabakh-first-visit-in-30-years-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/un-mission-arrives-n-karabakh-first-visit-in-30-years-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Mission arrives n Karabakh, first visit in 30 years | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A United Nations mission arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday, Azerbaijan said, after almost the entire ethnic-Armenian population fled since Baku recaptured the breakaway enclave.<\/p>\n

An Azerbaijani presidency spokesman told AFP<\/em> that a “UN mission arrived in Karabakh on Sunday morning” — mainly to assess humanitarian needs.<\/p>\n

It marks the first time in about 30 years that the international body has gained access to the region.<\/p>\n

Armenian separatists, who had controlled the region for three decades, agreed to disarm, dissolve their government and reintegrate with Baku following a one-day Azerbaijani offensive last week.<\/p>\n

The end of Karabakh’s separatist bid dealt a heavy blow to a centuries-old dream by Armenians of reuniting what they say are their ancestral lands, divided among regional powers since the Middle Ages.<\/p>\n

Nearly all of Karabakh’s estimated 120,000 residents fled the territory over the following days, sparking a refugee crisis.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Armenia observed a national day of prayer for the region.<\/p>\n

Read also:\u00a0Tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians rush to flee Nagorno-Karabakh<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bells tolled in churches across the country, and the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II, lead a service in the nation’s main cathedral Echmiadzin, close to the capital Yerevan.<\/p>\n

Clergymen in ornate robes sang ancient chants at an open-air altar outside the imposing cathedral built in a pale pink limestone.<\/p>\n

Yerevan has accused Baku of “ethnic cleansing” — an allegation that Baku rejected — calling on Armenians not to leave their homes and reintegrate with Azerbaijan where their rights would be respected.<\/p>\n

Armenia, a country of 2.8 million, faces a major challenge housing the sudden influx of refugees.<\/p>\n

Authorities said 35,000 were now in temporary accommodation.<\/p>\n

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Friday announced an emergency appeal for 20 million Swiss Francs ($22 million) to help those fleeing.<\/p>\n

Azerbaijan is now holding “re-integration” talks with separatist leaders while at the same time detained some senior figures from its former government and military command.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n