Aid for all
Sir: The latest diatribe from Mark Almond and Christine Stone (Letters, 30 October) contains misinformation which cannot remain uncorrected.
Christian Solidarity International is accused of making 'the situation worse'. We responded to the suffering of the people of Nagomo Karabakh, caused by Azeri block- ade and bombardment, because major international organisations such as UNHCR could not gain access. We have taken eight 50-ton cargo planes with anaes- thetics, analgesics, bandages, surgical dress- ings, blood plasma, intravenous fluids, baby milk powder, blankets, survival food etc. This could only 'have made the situation worse' by helping some Karabakhis to sur- vive and thus to hinder Azeri attempts at ethnic cleansing.
We are accused of having 'demonised' former president Elchibey. We have only quoted his own words and shown that under his leadership the Azeris escalated their military offensives against the people of Karabakh with tanks, Grad rocket launchers, cluster bombs and ground-to-air missiles.
I am accused of 'double standards' and ignoring suffering in other parts of the world. May I repeat: we have sent aid to Azeris as well as to Armenians. During the past 12 months I have also been to south- ern and northern Sudan, Russia and Mozambique in connection with human rights and humanitarian relief work; and CSI is working in many other places.
Caroline Cox,
House of Lords, London SW I
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