Armenia/Azerbaijan (MNN) — As quickly as it started, the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict seems subdued for now. But the dispute over a key territory continues.
On Tuesday, Azerbaijan launched an offensive against separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh – an ethnically Armenian region in Azerbaijan that wants to unite with Armenia. Over 200 people died, including civilians and children. Just a day later, ethnic Armenians in the region agreed to a ceasefire.
A refugee family in Armenia. (Photo courtesy of SGA)
Tensions have been building for months since Azerbaijani troops cut off the only road between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia in December.
Slavic Gospel Association’s Eric Mock says, “The people were literally blocked off from getting any food.
“In fact, what SGA has been doing is working with four churches in that region…that were crying out with need, so we were helping get aid. It’s very unique because you can’t get food in so we were actually assisting the churches in purchasing potatoes from farmers.”
Locals are concerned about further conflict. “They don’t want to see war again. Many of their sons were lost in the fighting so they’re brokenhearted over the idea that conflict would start again.”
Mock says Armenian churches are praying for peace and Church unity across borders. Please pray with them.
“You can be unified in the Kingdom of Heaven, and that’s where we stand with them. So that’s why the Gospel truly is a peacemaking Gospel.”
Click here to learn more about SGA’s ministry.
Header photo of Shushi, a town in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) mostly destroyed by war with Azerbaijan in 2020. (Revised caption, photo courtesy of Sarin Aventisian/Unsplash)
