Azerbaijan's Jabrayil welcomes back 40 families PHOTO/VIDEO

The return of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Azerbaijan’s newly reconstructed city of Jabrayil in Karabakh has commenced in line with President Ilham Aliyev's directive.

As part of the "Great Return" program, another group of returning citizens departed from the Garadagh district of Baku on September 30, Caliber.Az reports.

In this initial phase, 40 families, comprising 123 individuals, are making their way back to Jabrayil.

It is also worth noting that, to date, including today's group, permanent residence has been provided for 117 families (364 people) in Jabrayil.

The resettlement marks a significant step in the broader effort to rehabilitate and repopulate the liberated territories in Karabakh.

The "Great Return" initiative seeks to support the resettlement and rebuilding of regions impacted by conflict. Under the scheme, plans are in place for the development of three urban centres, five settlements, and 24 villages in the districts of Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan.

The first phase, running from 2022 to 2026, aims to facilitate the return of over 41,000 former internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral homes.

By Aghakazim Guliyev