Jabrayil reborn: Families return to revive their homeland after 30-year wait PHOTO

A new phase of resettlement has commenced as another group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has returned to Jabrayil city, following the directive of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

"We lived longing for our land for 32 years," said former IDP Makhluga Eyvazova, expressing her emotions on the eve of her return. "Jabrayil is our native land. When we left, my son was a fourth-grader. Today, I am filled with immense happiness as we finally go back home."

Eyewitnessing the emotional departure, Caliber.Az reported that 42 families, comprising 206 individuals, left the Garadagh district of Baku on January 18 to resettle in Jabrayil. Many of these residents had been temporarily housed in hostels, sanatoriums, children’s camps, and unfinished or administrative buildings across Azerbaijan for over three decades.

Makhluga Eyvazova recounted her hardships during displacement, noting that she, her husband, and four sons had been uprooted from their cherished homeland. "We had a wonderful life before becoming refugees. This longing for our hometown has aged me prematurely, but today, I feel rejuvenated as I return."

For another returning resident, Ramin Eyvazov, this journey marks the end of a 30-year chapter of displacement. "I left Jabrayil when I was just 12 years old. We faced extremely difficult days as IDPs in Sumgayit. But today, I return with my own family, including my four children," Eyvazov shared.

He expressed profound gratitude for the efforts that made their return possible. "We owe this moment to our President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and the victorious Azerbaijani Army. Thanks to their decisive actions, our lands were liberated. May Allah rest the souls of our martyrs and bless our veterans with health."

The resettlement initiative follows Azerbaijan’s decisive victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, led by President Aliyev and the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. This triumph not only secured territorial integrity but also enabled the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of displaced families to their homeland after three decades of separation.

Currently, around 30,000 individuals, including former IDPs, workers, and state employees, reside in the liberated regions of Karabakh and East Zangezur. This population comprises professionals in various sectors, such as healthcare, education, culture, tourism, and energy, contributing to the revitalisation of these regions.

The return of these families is more than a homecoming; it represents the resurgence of life, culture, and development in Jebrail and other liberated areas.

By Tamilla Hasanova