UNHCR delegation visited Azerbaijan, discussed solutions for displaced and conflict-affected people

The mission objective was to discuss the conditions and prospects for return of the internally displaced people and refugees as well as concrete aspects of UNHCR’s role as envisaged by the tripartite statement signed between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia in November 2020.  

In Baku, to discuss solutions for displaced and conflict-affected people the UNHCR delegation met with the high-level officials, including Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hikmat Hajiyev, President’s Aide for External Affairs, Mr. Rovshan Rzayev, Chairman of the State Refugee and IDP Affairs Committee, Mr. Vusal Huseynov, Head of the State Migration Service and Mr. Fariz Rzayev Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.  

During the meeting with Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, UNHCR’s Deputy Director Angela Li Rosi thanked the Government of Azerbaijan for their efforts and emphasized that UNHCR stands ready to provide support to the return process in its areas of expertise and looks forward to stepping up its engagement in the weeks and months to come. “We are confident that the Government and UNHCR will continue their engagement to ensure a sustainable and inclusive approach to returns in safety and dignity”, said Li Rosi. Mr. Elchin Amirbekov, Assistant to the First Vice president was also present at the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In order to assess the conditions on the ground, the delegation visited several locations in the districts of Aghdam, Barda, Fuzuli, Terter, Jabrayil and Zangilan. In Terter, where UNHCR has been delivering cash assistance and core relief items to help the most vulnerable in the conflict affected areas, the delegation visited a settlement and met with families living there. One of the displaced women in Terter who was also affected by the 2020 conflict and received UNHCR’s assistance in 2021, said that she and her husband hope to be able to go back to their area of origin if the conditions are safe. In Barda and Aghdam UNHCR met partners providing legal advice for displaced people and conducting awareness raising and information sessions, including in view of returns. In Zangilan, the delegation visited a village identified for piloting returns where reconstruction is proceeding at a fast pace.

The UNHCR delegation expressed its appreciation for the long-standing partnership with the Government of Azerbaijan as well as local authorities. UNHCR established its presence in the country in December 1992 when it initiated a large emergency relief operation to assist hundreds of thousand persons displaced at the time.