Azerbaijani official highlights country's humanitarian contributions at UN forum

Azerbaijan has evolved from a recipient of humanitarian assistance into a donor country since gaining independence, the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Tofig Musaev, told a United Nations forum on humanitarian affairs.

Speaking during the Humanitarian Affairs Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Musaev said Azerbaijan actively supports global humanitarian efforts through cooperation with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and through bilateral aid programmes implemented by government institutions, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

According to a statement published by Azerbaijan's Permanent Mission to the United Nations on social media, Musaev emphasised that despite its growing role as a donor, Azerbaijan continues to face significant humanitarian challenges linked to the legacy of the conflict with Armenia.

He said these challenges include approximately 300,000 Azerbaijani refugees from Armenia, more than 700,000 internally displaced persons from territories that were previously under Armenian occupation, widespread destruction in those areas, and ongoing uncertainty over the fate of more than 4,000 people still listed as missing.

Musaev also outlined Azerbaijan's ongoing reconstruction efforts in territories liberated following the conflict and highlighted the threat posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.

"The scale of the mine threat requires greater accountability, stronger international solidarity and partnership, as well as increased support for national capacity-building and demining efforts," he said.

The Azerbaijani diplomat noted that the government has designated humanitarian demining as the country's 18th National Sustainable Development Goal, underscoring its importance to post-conflict recovery and the safe return of displaced communities.

Concluding his remarks, Musaev reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to international humanitarian cooperation and support for vulnerable populations, in line with the principles and objectives of the United Nations and internationally agreed humanitarian frameworks.

By Sabina Mammadli