The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation (Sacramento, CA)- Sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting him to make every effort to send aid, relief, and peacekeeping to the Armenians in both Nagorno Karabakh and the displaced Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh arriving in Armenia. The United States immediate assistance is needed during this humanitarian crisis to ensure that international human rights violations do not continue.
October 9, 2023
President Joe Biden
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden,
It is with great urgency that the California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation is asking you to make every effort to send aid, relief, and peacekeeping to the Armenians in both Nagorno Karabakh and the displaced Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh arriving in Armenia. The United States immediate assistance is needed during this humanitarian crisis to ensure that international human rights violations do not continue.
Since December 12, 2022, Azerbaijan has blocked the Lachin Corridor, a road that connects Armenia to Nagorno Karabakh creating a human crisis blocking much needed food, fuel, medical supplies, transportation, and essential services. The situation rapidly worsened as the Azerbaijan military moved into Nagorno Karabakh launching attacks on the 120,000 ethnic Armenians who inhabit Nagorno Karabakh. With the recent collapse of the Nagorno-Karabakh government, more than 80% of the Armenians inhabiting Nagorno Karabakh have fled the unsafe region and are flooding Armenia. Azerbaijan continues their horrific attacks on the Armenian people.
We ask that you help to ensure that Armenians who are trapped in Nagorno Karabakh be given resources and assistance to leave the region. Many do not have access to transportation, gasoline, have health conditions that make travel difficult, etc. These individuals are trapped and in need of protection. Their lives depend on your help.
We ask that you help the displaced Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh who continue to arrive in large numbers to Armenia. Upon arrival they need shelter, food, medical care, and basic essential services.
There is a critical need for civilian monitors to assess the situation and oversee human rights are protected to ensure that brutal and unjust actions do not continue. United States peacekeeping efforts would send a powerful message that the United States is committed to upholding the principles of peace and human rights.
California is home to a large diaspora of Armenian Americans, many of whom have family, friends, and direct ties to Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia. This is not just an international issue; this is a United States issue.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Bruton-Yenovkian at (916) 396-9738.
The letter is signed by Senators Bob Archuleta, Maria Elena Durazo, Anthony Portantino, Scott Wilk, Assemblymembers: Lisa Calderon, Wendy Carrillo, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Laura Friedman, Jesse Gabriel, Chris Holden, Tom Lackey, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Luz Rivas, Blanca Rubio, Miguel Santiago, Rick Chavez Zbur, and Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (Ret.).
