JABRAYIL, Azerbaijan, December 15. Azerbaijani families arriving in Jabrayil district's Horovlu village today were handed the keys to their new homes, Trend's regional correspondent reports.
Families moving to Horovlu were briefed by staff from the State Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) on the dangers posed by mines and unexploded ordnance. They were advised to avoid unfamiliar objects and immediately report any suspicious items to the relevant authorities.
The key presentation ceremony was attended by representatives from the Special Presidential Envoy’s Office for the districts of Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan, the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, and other officials. Families accepted their keys with joy and began settling into their new homes.
At this stage, a total of 22 families, comprising 85 people, have been relocated to Horovlu. These families were previously temporarily housed in dormitories, sanatoriums, camps, unfinished buildings, and administrative facilities across various regions of Azerbaijan.
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As part of the "I State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the next phase of resettlement has taken place in Horovlu village of the Jabrayil district, with families returning to their ancestral homes early this morning, Trend’s regional correspondent reports.
Horovlu welcomed 22 families, totaling 85 residents. The families stepped into the newly rebuilt village with tears of joy, witnessing the transformation of their homeland.
The village spans 248 hectares, with the first phase covering 94 hectares where 334 individual houses have been constructed. The homes feature two to five rooms and are equipped with modern utilities, including water, electricity, gas, solar panels, and high-speed internet. Roads within the village have been asphalted, and key public facilities have been built, including a school for 624 students, a kindergarten for 220 children, a two-story administrative building, a market complex, multifunctional catering facilities, a medical center, and a sports and wellness center. Traditional irrigation canals, historically used and destroyed during the occupation, in Asgar, Shighi, Orta, Gulgasim, and Khalifa, have also been restored.
A 4.4-hectare park complex has been established in Horovlu, along with walking paths extending from the Flag Square to the market complex. 3.1 hectares of green space have been planted with olive, plane, and Eldar pine trees.
Returning residents expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state support. They also thanked the heroic Azerbaijani Army for liberating their lands, paid respects to fallen soldiers, and extended condolences and patience to the families of martyrs.
Azerbaijan's "Great Return" program aims to resettle about 140,000 displaced persons (IDPs) and revitalize the liberated territories of Karabakh and East Zangezur by 2026. The initiative focuses on large-scale reconstruction, including infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, with investments projected at ~$17.6 billion by 2030. The program will undergo two phases: the initial State Program (2021-2026), followed by a second phase (2027-2030), currently in planning, reinforcing the government's commitment to ensuring a safe and dignified return for IDPs and fostering sustainable livelihoods.
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