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RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS IN KARABAKH FOR 10 MONTHS

Evika BABAYAN

  It has been 10 months since the Russian peacekeeping forces (RSF) were in NagornoKarabakh. Extensive work has been done by the peacekeepers to prevent the resumption of hostilities, aimed at restoring infrastructure and peaceful life.

Various humanitarian actions are held every day, aid is provided to the needy. The people of NagornoKarabakh are grateful to the Russian peacekeepers for all this.

"Russian peacekeepers are helping us. We appreciate everything they do for us. All the fields, orchards and vineyards were left beyond the border line, "it would be difficult for us without servicemen-peacekeepers," said the head of Taghavard community of Martuni region.

Such a word of gratitude can be heard from every resident of NagornoKarabakh.

Recently, the servicemen of the Russian peacekeeping contingent donated about 40 liters of blood to the citizens of NagornoKarabakh receiving treatment in hospitals. The servicemen donated blood on a voluntary basis in response to a request from the local authorities for assistance from the RSF Humanitarian Response Center. About 100 Russian servicemen responded and donated blood. The blood sampling was performed by the specialists of the special medical detachment of the peacekeeping contingent on the basis of the blood transfusion department of Stepanakert. "After taking the donor's blood, it is brought to the laboratory for examination of the infectious status," explained GayaneAvanesyan, head of the blood transfusion department.

- Blood should be tested for hepatitis, AIDS, malaria, excluding a number of infections, such as testing the donor rhesus factor, and then a conclusion is made about the compatibility of the recipient with the blood. Maxim Pugachev, a representative of the RSF, said that before starting the procedure, each serviceman filled in the necessary questionnaire, and then everyone's blood pressure and well-being were checked.

"After the blood donation procedure, each soldier was given an additional portion of food - chocolate, juice, cookies. “In addition, all servicemen who donated blood will be given an extra day off," he concluded.

On August 13, the officers of the Humanitarian Response Center in Martuni held a humanitarian action. Russian peacekeepers have provided food packages and basic necessities to large families, IDPs, refugees. A total of 4.5 tons of humanitarian aid was transferred. 250 citizens received humanitarian aid.

"Today the peacekeepers provided assistance to the residents of the town of Martuni in NagornoKarabakh. Such humanitarian actions are held to provide the population with basic necessities and clothes. "Apart from refugees, assistance has also been provided to large families," said Capt. Anton B., an officer of the Humanitarian Response Center.

"These are difficult times for us, but thanks to the help of Russian peacekeepers, life is back to normal. "Thank you and the whole Russian people for helping us," said NelliVazroyan, a resident of Martuni.

On August 14, the officers of the RSF Humanitarian Response Center held a military relay in the youth sports camp of Tsmakahogh village of Martakert region, which was attended by 54 students.

On August 16, in Stepanakert, RSF officers provided humanitarian assistance to Afghan war veterans, receiving a total of 62 people.

On August 17, the Russian peacekeepers attacked the village of Astghashen in the Askeran region. They conducted an interactive lesson with the students of N1 secondary school on the topic "Russia in the modern world".

During the period of August 14-18, 3 hectares of land in Martuni region were cleared of unexploded ordnance and explosives, and 2 explosives were found and destroyed.

As of today, a total of 1923 buildings have been inspected, more than 674 km of roads have been cleared, 2250 hectares have been cleared, 25798 explosive devices have been found and destroyed.

4202 locals applied to the RSF Public Reception in NagornoKarabakh. Since the beginning of the works, the Center has received calls to the "hot line" from 1836 citizens of the republic.