Women clutching their infants demonstrated today outside the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (IRC) in the Artsakh capital of Stepanakert, demanding that the agency take steps to prevent a humanitarian crisis resulting from the closure of the Lachin Corridor.

The roadway, the only land link between Artsakh and Armenia, has been close for twenty-nine days by Azerbaijani protesters claiming to be “eco-activists”.

Tatev Khachatryan, a member of the Artsakh Women’s Club, addressed the crowd gathered outside the IRC.

"This is a shame for the civilized world. Families are divided. It's been a month now. Many children dream of hugging their mothers and fathers,” she said, calling on mothers around the world to raise the issue. “We are 120,000, but this is how many of us are left because they are constantly trying to massacre and annihilate us. Let's not let it happen."

Mariam Abrahamyan, another demonstrator, said while she welcomes what the IRC has done to alleviate the impact of the road closure, it’s not enough.

“The situation is getting worse from day to day,” she said.