Key messages

•Cereal production reached an exceptionally high level of 2.8 million tonnes in 2012, due to favourable weather conditions and government incentives, which represented an increase of 14% compared to 2011.

•Food prices increased by 1.4% between September and December 2012. The price of bread and potato increased but remained below last year’s levels.

•The prevalence of poverty continued to decrease in 2012 (6.0%) and reached a minimum in the decade.

•Cereal imports in 2012 were 16% higher in volume than in 2011.

Resettlement scheme angers Azerbaijan, which sees it as an obstruction to an eventual peace deal.

Some of the Armenians fleeing the conflict in Syria are being welcomed as settlers by the authorities Nagorny Karabakh.

Robert Matevosyan, head of the resettlement department at Nagorny Karabakh’s Kashatagh district government, says 25 families have moved there since the civil war started in Syria.

The atmosphere in the stadium is tense; the crowd waiting for the referee’s whistle that will kick-off the final. Spectators waving Red Crescent flags and national flags watch the players in Red Crescent shirts on the pitch, all eyes on the ball. With elimination matches over, the last teams standing want to take the cup and go back to school in two days time as champions of the Red Crescent football tournament.

A 490/12

The European Union has announced the launch of the second phase of the civil society programme European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (EPNK).
This programme aims to support peace-building efforts concerning the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh by facilitating dialogue between civil society, media and policy-makers.

After completing his visit to Zagatala District, President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Gakh District.

The President visited a new private house built for Abdulla Mammadov in the earthquake-affected Gulluk village of Gakh District. A. Mammadov’s previous house became unusable in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Azerbaijan’s north-western region in early May of this year.

Overview

On 07 and 18 May, 2012 an earthquake struck Gakh, Zagatala, Sheki and Balakan districts of Azerbaijan Republic. As a result of the earthquake many constructions and private houses were damaged. In accordance with its mission and mandate the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society considered it necessary to provide relevant humanitarian assistance to people affected by the earthquake. For this purpose the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society conducted an assessment in Zagatala and Gakh districts.

• Agricultural production is expected to be higher in 2012 than in 2011 for all main crops. Wheat production continues to increase and self-sufficiency is expected in 2015.
• The prevalence of poverty continued to decline from 9.1% in 2010 to 7.6% in 2011. The steady reduction of poverty in the 2000s is attributed to strong economic growth and increasing minimal wages and social transfers.
• Food prices remained stable between December 2011 and March 2012. They were on average 4% higher in January–March 2012 than during the same period of 2011.

By Sarah Oughton

Despite the 1994 ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the two armies exchange fire almost daily over the disputed Nagorny-Karabakh territory, making life difficult for those living along the contested border.

Nana Chukhua, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) economic security delegate in Azerbaijan, talks about the challenges of living and working in such a context:

What is life like for these people living under the threat of gunfire?