First stage of collecting information about people missing in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict completed in Azerbaijan

Roughly 20 specially trained volunteers of Azerbaijani Red Crescent Society spoke with families of missing people and filled in 1,151 questionnaires to collect detailed information. Information about appearance of missing people and circumstances of their missing were indicated in questionnaires, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on July 30.  

The first stage of national program has completed. But 260 missing people have not been found up to now. The International Committee of the Red Cross calls on these families to contact with the committee or nearest office of Azerbaijani Red Crescent Society to complete collecting information .   

Detailed information about missing people will be given to the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People.

The number of Azerbaijani population missing and taken hostage as a result of the conflict was 4,499, including military - 3,615, civilians - 876 (8 remain unknown). Among the civilians three are 52 children (18 - young girls), old people - 381 (174 - old women), middle-age women - 95, middle-age men - 351.

There is information that roughly 783 people of 4,449 were taken prisoner and hostage. Witnesses were questioned.

Roughly 1,390 hostages, including 342 women, 1,048 men, 168 children (65  children), 289 old people (112 women), 165 middle-age women and 779 middle-age men were released.

It was revealed that 451 people, including 86 women, 365 men were killed or died due to different reasons. Names of 124 people were identified but 69 were unknown people.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People signed a frame agreement in April 2008 to collect and control centralized detailed information about missing people .

Process of detailed information collection has not been completed yet. This process continues in 18 cities and regions situated near the contact line. Process will cover 35 Azerbaijani cities and regions. The International Committee of the Red Cross envisages to complete collection of information in all Azerbaijani regions by late 2010.

/Trend News/