“I emerged from the cellar in order to film for a few seconds, in order to collect evidence (...) I was very scared." Video reporter Siranush Adamyan provided us with her chilling account of Azerbaijan’s attack on Nagorno-Karabakh on 19 September that led to a massive exodus of the enclave’s residents, including many journalists. The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) crisis unit met them in Armenia in order to offer them psychological assistance, training and professional equipment.

Many of these journalists were born and grew up in Nagorno-Karabakh. They have sustained significant physical and psychological trauma, and will have to rebuild their lives. Some have lost loved-ones. According to RSF’s tally, around 40 of these journalists want to resume working as journalists. It is important for us to be at their side, in order to talk to them about their experiences, and prepare the assistance we will provide in the areas of medical attention, training and protection.

We are working together with the Freedom of information Centre of Armenia (FOICA) and leading media outlets such as CivilNet and EVN Report, in order to provide the psychological support they need, supply professional equipment to replace what was lost or damaged, help build their capacities, train them in conflict zone reporting and first aid, and provide them with protective vests and helmets, as well as first aid kits.

Dear friends, we need your support in order to be able to continue to provide assistance to these men and women, who risk their lives every day with the sole aim of keeping us informed.