Terrified families fleeing in fear of ethnic cleansing after the collapse of Nagorno-Karabakh are running out of water and fuel during the desperate two-day odyssey to neighbouring Armenia. More than 90,000 Karabakh Armenians – around three-quarters of the total population – have now left their homes in the breakaway enclave, which is internationally recognised as being part of Azerbaijan. The United Nations fears the stunning fall of the enclave could mean there will eventually be no Armenians left in Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting concerns of ethnic cleansing. It is the largest exodus of people in the South Caucasus since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The breakaway region - also known by Armenians as Artsakh - had enjoyed de facto independence for three decades before Azerbaijan launched a lightning military operation earlier this month. It forced separatist forces to lay down their weapons and fto agree to formally dissolve the breakaway government. Fearing reprisals, as Baku’s forces moved into the main cities and arrested Armenian officials, hungry and scared families packed what few belongings they could into cars and trucks and left their homes for good. Valeri, 17, fled the village of Kichan, 70 km north of the Armenian border with his family and neighbours. In total, they squeezed 35 people into a Ford Transit and made the four-day journey to safety, sitting on top of each other and sleeping in shifts. “We couldn’t take anything with us because the shelling was too intense as we escaped,” he told The Independent. They had to hide in a large waste water pipe to escape artillery fire, he said. In the chaos, families were separated and the mobile coverage in the mountainous regions means they are still trying to reconnect. His family has been forced to move six times since the early 1990s and, like so many Armenians, find themselves homeless again. “I don’t think it’s possible to go back to Kichan, even if we could go back everything will be wrecked or stolen,” he said. Others described a 40km hairpin road to Armenia at a near standstill, with some vehicles breaking down for a lack of fuel. In the lead-up to Azerbaijan’s operation, Baku had imposed a 10-month blockade on the enclave leading to chronic shortages of food and petrol supplies. “All you can see is a sea of cars stretching to the horizon, people are cooking by the side of the road,” said Gev Iskajyan, 31, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of Artsakh, as he arrived exhausted in the Armenian capital Yerevan. He fled the region’s main city Stepanakert, or Khankendi as it is known in Azerbaijan, fearing he could be arrested if he stayed. “Resources are so scarce there, people are running out of water and fuel on the road along the way out. If anything happens to children and the elderly, no one can get to them. Ambulances can’t move,” he told The Independent. He said most families believed they would not ever be able to return home and that this was the end of Armenian presence. “It weighs heavy. Nagorno-Karabakh isn’t just a place, it is a culture, it has its own dialect,” he said. “You look at the people in the back of trucks, they have to fit their entire life in a single box, they can’t bring everything, they can’t go back, it breaks your heart. “It is centuries of history lost.” Nagorno-Karabakh isn’t just a place, it is a culture, it has its own dialect Gev Iskajyan, an Armenian advocate who fled to Yerevan The centuries-old conflict that has raged through the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh remains the longest-running in post-Soviet Eurasia. The 4,400 square kilometre territory is officially part of Azerbaijan but after a bloody war following the dissolution of the USSR in the 1990s, the region’s Armenian-majority population enjoyed state-like autonomy and status. That changed in 2020 when Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, launched a military offensive and took back swathes of territory in a six-week conflict that killed thousands of soldiers and civilians. Russia, which supports Armenia, brokered a tense cessation of hostilities. But that was broken earlier this month when Baku launched a 24-hour blitz which proved too much for Armenian separatist forces, who are outgunned and outnumbered. They agreed to lay down their weapons and dissolve the entire enclave. Residents still left in Nagorno-Karabakh told The Independent that Azerbaijani forces and police entered the main city. “People are intensively fleeing after the forces entered, and took over the governmental buildings,” said one man who asked not to be named over concerns for his safety. Baku has also detained prominent Armenians as they attempted to flee, prompting fears more arrests may follow. Among them was Ruben Vardanyan, a billionaire investment banker, who served as the head of Karabakh’s separatist government between November 2022 and February this year. On Friday, Russian state media reported that the Azerbaijani military had also detained former separatist commander Levon Mnatsakanyan as he also tried to escape. He led the army of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh from 2015 to 2018. The UN, meanwhile, said they were readying themselves for as many as 120,000 refugees to flood into Armenia, a third of them children. “The major concern for us is that many of them have been separated from their family,” said Regina De Dominicis, regional director of the UN’s child agency. “This is a situation where they’ve lived under nine months of blockade,” added Kavita Belani, UNHCR representative in Armenia. “When they come in, they’re full of anxiety, they’re scared, they’re frightened and they want answers.” Read More More than 70% of Nagorno-Karabakh's population flees as separatist government says it will dissolve The fall of an enclave in Azerbaijan stuns the Armenian diaspora, extinguishing a dream AP PHOTOS: Tens of thousands of Armenians flee in mass exodus from breakaway region of Azerbaijan More than 70% of Nagorno-Karabakh's population flees as separatist government says it will dissolve The fall of an enclave in Azerbaijan stuns the Armenian diaspora, extinguishing a dream Why this week's mass exodus from embattled Nagorno-Karabakh reflects decades of animosity

By Katie Paul and Anna Tong MENLO PARK, California (Reuters) -Meta Platforms Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday rolled out

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 2, 2023--

A fuchsia sign for a bridal shop, the Chinese "double happiness" character, a cool-blue flying dragon -- luminous lights of dozens of neon signs removed from the streets of Hong Kong flickered...

A new animal welfare law in Spain outlaws the use of animals for recreational activities that cause them pain and suffering but allows bullfights and hunting with dogs

There's one main thing to know about Rep. Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican who does not yet have the votes to become speaker of the House of Representatives.

Everton host Manchester United at Goodison Park in their first match since being deducted 10 points for being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial fair play rules. It leaves Sean Dyche’s side in the bottom three and facing a relegation battle, despite the Toffees showing improved form before the international break and distancing themselves from Luton Town, Sheffield United and Burnley. The ruling of the Premier League’s independent commission will ensure Manchester United face a hostile crowd at Goodison Park, as Erik ten Hag’s side look to build on their recent run in the top-flight. Despite already suffering five defeats this campaign, United went into the international break with four wins from their last five and top of the Premier League’s form table. But the pressure would quickly return if United don’t get a result, ahead of Wednesday’s crucial trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League. Here’s everything you need to know while you can get the latest Everton vs Manchester United odds, here. When is Everton vs Manchester United? The match kicks off at 4:30pm GMT on Sunday 26 November at Goodison Park. How can I watch it? It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage following the previous match between Tottenham and Aston Villa. If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. What is the team news? Everton captain Seamus Coleman could be in contention to return after a long-term injury layoff while Amadou Onana is a doubt due to a calf problem. Manchester United goalkeeper is expected to be fit despite picking up a knock while on Cameroon duty. Luke Shaw could make his first appearance since the second week of the season while Rasmus Hojlund faces a late fitness test. Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans are long-term absentees. Predicted line-ups Everton: Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner, Doucoure; Harrison, Calvert-Lewin, McNeil Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Amrabat, McTominay, Fernandes; Antony, Martial, Rashford Odds Everton 17/10 Draw 5/2 Manchester United 13/8 get the latest Everton vs Manchester United odds, here. Prediction A motivated Everton earn a precious three points to put the pressure back on Erik ten Hag’s side. Everton 3-1 Manchester United Read More Erik ten Hag: Schedule has already crossed limits of what players can handle Luton clinch huge win as Jacob Brown scores decisive goal against Crystal Palace Banner calling for release of activist in UAE flown over Etihad Stadium Ten Hag urges Man Utd to match ‘fuel’ of Everton’s anger after 10-point penalty Man Utd have reached ‘turning point’ ahead of crucial week – Erik ten Hag Everton fans fly plane over Etihad Stadium protesting the Premier League

Dutch veteran Arantxa Rus ended the fairytale run of German teenager Noma Noha Akugue on Saturday to capture her maiden WTA title at the...

A couple on a 13-hour flight were refunded over £1,000 after being seated next to a farting dog. Gill and Warren Press were travelling from Paris to New Zealand with Singapore Airlines when an emotional support dog started snoring loudly during the first leg of their trip. "I heard this noise – a heavy snorting," Gill told Stuff. "I thought it was my husband’s phone, but we looked down and realised it was the dog breathing. I said, ‘I’m not having this sitting next to us the whole trip." They also claimed the dog wouldn't stop farting during the journey. It was then the couple alerted staff and asked to move, but there were no spaces available. "They couldn’t have the dog out in the aisle because they couldn’t get the trolleys through, so it had to come in further, which meant his head was under my husband’s feet," she continued. "My husband was in shorts and was getting the dog’s saliva goo on his leg." The pair were offered $116 in travel vouchers – which they were unhappy with. They pushed for a refund and have since been given approximately $1,410 which they plan on donating to a charity for guide dogs. A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines said: "Singapore Airlines (SIA) apologises to Mr and Mrs Press for their experience on board their flight from Paris to Singapore. "SIA endeavours to notify customers who may be seated next to an assistance dog prior to boarding. In circumstances where customers seated next to an assistance dog request to be moved, we will assist to re-seat customers within the same cabin if space permits. "In this instance, we were unable to move Mr and Mrs Press within the same cabin as the Premium Economy Class cabin was full. Our crew offered to move Mr and Mrs Press to two empty seats in Economy Class, which they accepted after take-off." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Norway inaugurated the world's biggest floating wind park in the North Sea on Wednesday, an emerging technology considered promising for the transition from...

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 2023--

Saturday's game between the Cubs and Yankees looks headed for a rain delay with thunderstorms heading towards Yankee Stadium.On Friday, the Cubs got their first-ever victory at Yankee Stadium, 3-0. On Saturday, the Yankees looked well on their way to evening the series with a 6-3 lead going...