Meaning: The quote you have provided refers to the tragic events that took place during the Armenian Genocide, which occurred between 1915 and 1923 in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire, under the rule of the Young Turks, targeted the Armenian population through a systematic campaign of deportation, forced labor, and mass killings. The quote highlights the scale of the devastation, as well as the significant loss of life suffered by the Armenian people during this dark period of history.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Ottoman Empire, which was a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state, experienced significant political and social upheaval. The rise of nationalist movements and the declining power of the Ottoman government created a volatile environment, particularly for minority groups such as the Armenians.

In 1915, the Ottoman government, under the leadership of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), embarked on a systematic campaign to eliminate the Armenian population. This campaign, which is widely recognized as the first modern genocide, involved the deportation of Armenians from their ancestral lands, often under the guise of resettlement. However, these deportations were in reality death marches, during which hundreds of thousands of Armenians perished due to starvation, exhaustion, and brutal treatment.

In addition to forced deportations, the Armenian population was subjected to widespread violence and massacres. Men, women, and children were indiscriminately killed, often in large numbers, as part of a deliberate effort to eradicate the Armenian community from the Ottoman Empire. The total number of Armenians killed during this period is estimated to be well over a million, with many others enduring tremendous suffering and loss.

The Armenian Genocide is a deeply contentious and highly politicized issue. While the overwhelming majority of historians and scholars recognize the events of 1915-1923 as a genocide, the Turkish government continues to dispute this classification, citing the complex historical context and contesting the use of the term "genocide." This denial has contributed to ongoing tensions between Turkey and the Armenian diaspora, as well as the broader international community.

The quote by Eliot Engel, a prominent politician, serves as a stark reminder of the immense human tragedy that unfolded during the Armenian Genocide. It underscores the scale of the devastation, with over a million Armenians deported and hundreds of thousands killed. By drawing attention to these historical atrocities, Engel's quote emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and remembering the suffering of the Armenian people, as well as the broader imperative to confront and prevent future acts of genocide and mass violence.

In recent years, there has been a growing global recognition of the Armenian Genocide, with numerous countries, international organizations, and scholars formally acknowledging and condemning the events of 1915-1923 as genocide. This increased awareness has been accompanied by efforts to commemorate the victims, preserve the memory of the genocide, and seek justice for the survivors and their descendants.

The quote you have provided encapsulates the profound impact of the Armenian Genocide, both in terms of the staggering loss of life and the enduring significance of this historical tragedy. It serves as a call to acknowledge the suffering of the Armenian people and to work towards a more just and inclusive world, where such atrocities are not only remembered but also prevented in the future.