Official: Over 40,000 former IDPs returned to Azerbaijan's Karabakh

More than 40,000 former internally displaced people (IDPs) have returned to Karabakh, while over 45 settlements have been rebuilt and restored, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov said.

In a post on X, Mammadov said around 100,000 people are now living, working and studying in Karabakh, highlighting the scale of reconstruction and resettlement efforts over the past six years, Caliber.Az reports.

1️⃣40,000+ former IDPs have returned.
2️⃣ 45+ settlements have been rebuilt and restored.
3️⃣ Around 100,000 people are now living, working and studying in Garabagh.

🏠 The scale of progress in just six years is significant, but so is the challenge ahead. Landmines continue to… pic.twitter.com/W7QV5pI5DP

— Elnur Mammadov (@ElnurIMammadov) September 14, 2026

He said the progress was significant but noted that major challenges remain, particularly the threat posed by landmines.

According to Mammadov, landmines continue to threaten lives and hinder reconstruction efforts, with another civilian injured in a mine incident just last week.

He said Azerbaijan remains determined to overcome these obstacles and ensure the safe and dignified return of displaced communities under its Great Return programme.

By Sabina Mammadli