Another group of displaced persons resettled in Khojaly

A new group of displaced individuals has been relocated to Ballija village in Khojaly district, continuing efforts to resettle families in the region.

A total of 22 families, comprising 94 people, have been resettled in the village, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

This resettlement is part of ongoing efforts to address the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.

Currently, more than 30,000 people, including former IDPs, reside in these regions. Many of these residents are involved in various development projects, contributing to the ongoing reconstruction and revitalization of the area. Additionally, some are employed in local subdivisions of state institutions or are working in different sectors to support the region's recovery.

The relocation process aims to provide displaced persons with stable living conditions while also encouraging local development through employment and active participation in the region’s rebuilding efforts.

Ballija village has been under Armenian occupation since 1992. It was liberated during the one-day local anti-terrorist operation conducted on September 19-20, 2023 by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces to neutralise illegal Armenian armed formations and their military infrastructure in the Karabakh region.

The resettlement comes after a prolonged period of hardship for Khojaly, which was occupied on the night of February 25-26, 1992, during a tumultuous period in the region's history. The occupation was marked by the tragic events of the Khojaly genocide, where Armenian forces committed atrocities against Azerbaijani civilians. During the attack on Khojaly, the Armenian armed forces killed 613 ethnic Azerbaijanis, including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly people.

By Vafa Guliyeva