The chief of IOM Azerbaijan meets the chairman of the Azerbaijan State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs

Greeting the participants Mr. Rovshan Rzayev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Committee spoke about the activities of international organizations on humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons in the country. Mr. Rzayev emphasized the importance of the projects implemented by IOM in Azerbaijan, including IOM’s kahriz rehabilitation project, the support provided to IDPs’ small business activities, the cash assistance given to the conflict affected people and expressed his gratitude. He especially noted that the committee is interested in continuing fruitful cooperation with IOM also in the process of returning of IDPs to the regained territories, in organizing trainings for them on the rehabilitation of water sources such as kahrizes in these lands, as well as business, vocational and language trainings for IDPs to promote self-employment and support their small business initiatives.

Vladimir Gjorgjiev updated Mr. Rzayev on the activities within the Kahriz rehabilitation project that is implemented by IOM Azerbaijan in which IDPs are part of the project beneficiaries. He noted that rehabilitation of Kahrizes which will provide drinking and irrigation water to 8 thousand families in different regions of Azerbaijan, will continue in the following period. He also underlined IOM readiness to work with the committee in areas of joint importance and share expertise.

During the meeting, the prospects for organizing vocational, language and small business trainings for youth, adapting the Displacement Tracking Matrix system developed by IOM to the needs of Azerbaijan to support the process of returning of IDPs to the regained territory were discussed.

The participants decided to continue contacts and explore the possibilities for cooperation in different areas to benefit IDP’s community and support of process of returning of IDPs and ensuring sustainable living condition for them.