The conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, also Nagorno-Karabakh (Russian) or Artsakh (Armenian), is an ethno-territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Its origins date back to the 18th century. In the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, a bitter war broke out (1992-1994), which led to mass refugees and expulsions. The conflict remained frozen until it flared up again in the early 2020s. Since December 12, 2022, the Lachin Corridor – the only connecting road between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border – has been blocked with catastrophic effects on the civilian population.

130,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh have been cut off from basic goods and services such as essential medicines and medical care. Azerbaijan’s military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023 led to a mass exodus of over 100,000 people in less than a week, overwhelming the Armenian authorities and the Armenian health system and calling on the global community to act.

As a humanitarian organisation that specialises in mental health and has developed its method of psychosocial support – Value Based Counseling (VBC) – in extremely challenging, resource-poor conflict areas, we feel both committed and able to help.

The advice will be offered stationary and mobile as well as virtually via our online platform. To this end, we will provide local Russian-Armenian psychologists and social workers with advanced training in VBC from the beginning of 2024.