ANCA: "Artsakh Is a U.S. Humanitarian Aid Desert" . No new U.S. aid to Artsakh despite ongoing Azerbaijani aggression 

ArmInfo.The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has expanded grassroots calls to grow U.S. aid to Artsakh and cut military assistance to Azerbaijan, in the face of ongoing anti-Armenian aggression by President Aliyev's regime  and the humanitarian and economic crisis facing over 100,000  Armenians displaced by Azerbaijan and Turkey's 2020 attack on  Artsakh.  

"Artsakh remains a US humanitarian aid desert - with only meager  USAID help for Armenian refugees forced from Artsakh into Armenia and  almost no aid at all for those who remain," said ANCA Executive  Director Aram Hamparian.  

"It's long past time for the Biden Administration and Congress to  provide meaningful assistance to address the urgent needs for  housing, food, water security, healthcare, and demining/UXO needs in  Artsakh." The ANCA has launched an online advocacy campaign,  www.anca.org/aid, urging Congressional leaders crafting the Fiscal  Year 2023 Foreign Aid Bill to ensure:  

-- Not less than $100,000,000 to provide urgently-needed direct U.S.   humanitarian and developmental aid to the more than 100,000 Armenians  ethnically cleansed by Azerbaijan from their Artsakh homeland,  helping these families rebuild their lives and resettle in safety  upon their indigenous Armenian homeland.  

-- None of the funds appropriated under the FY23 State-Foreign  Operations bill shall be provided to Azerbaijan for military or  security programs, including - but not limited to - Section 333  (Capacity Building), Foreign Military Financing, and International  Military Education and Training.  

-- Not less than $100,000,000 to strengthen Armenia's security and  sovereignty against continued Azerbaijani aggression, incursions, and  occupation.  The ANCA's call comes as the Human Rights Defenders of  Armenia and Artsakh, Arman Tatoyan and Gegham Stepanyan respectively,  continue to raise alarm bells about ongoing Azerbaijani aggression  against Artsakh border villages, calling special attention to the  situation in Martuni's Karmir Shuka and Taghavard villages.  

Water security issues have been reported in near the village Aghavno,  where armed Azerbaijani servicemen slaughtered and disposed of cattle  remains, poisoning the water. Water security issues are also reported  in Armenia's Gegharkunik and Syunik regions.  

In September, 2021, the United States Agency for International  Development (USAID), in a response to inquiries by Rep. Judy Chu  (D-CA), reported that it has provided just $2.5 million for displaced  Artsakh Armenians who have sought refuge in Armenia.  

According to USAID, some $4.5 million has been provided in "new and  repurposed assistance to respond to the complex humanitarian crisis  resulting from the NK hostilities and the conflict-associated  COVID-19 resurgence in Armenia."  

Those funds likely include support for Azerbaijan, which, along with  Turkey, launched its attacks against Armenia and Artsakh in 2020. 

While there are reports of continued low-level demining assistance to  Artsakh, no significant funds addressing the serious food, water, and  housing needs of displaced Armenians in Armenia or Artsakh have been  allocated or distributed.  

Meanwhile, $120 million in U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan  continues, even as Azerbaijan expanded its ties with Russia this  week, signing a joint declaration on bilateral "allied cooperation." 

"The Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan build their  relations on the basis of allied interaction, mutual respect for  independence, state sovereignty, territorial integrity and  inviolability of the borders of the two countries," reads their joint  declaration.  

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is reporting that the seven-page  declaration, "says that the two sides will not only step up  Russian-Azerbaijani military cooperation but may also "consider the  possibility of providing each other with military assistance."