Azerbaijan is currently executing one of the largest reconstruction and return programs in the region, focusing on rebuilding lives and communities alongside physical infrastructure. For Azerbaijan, the restoration of liberated territories is a deeply personal mission, as internally displaced persons lived for nearly 30 years with the hope of returning to their ancestral homes. Entire cities and villages in the liberated areas were destroyed during the period of occupation, leaving behind landscapes of ruins and collapsed housing systems in several districts.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, these remarks were made by Emin Huseynov, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand districts. Speaking at an event titled "Housing at the Center of Post-Crisis Recovery and Reconstruction" held within the framework of the 13th Session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13), Huseynov emphasized that reconstruction involves more than just bricks and mortar. He noted that true recovery begins when people can reimagine their futures in their native lands, fostering a profound "sense of belonging."
The restoration efforts in Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand are being carried out based on a long-term vision of sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. The Azerbaijani government has allocated substantial financial resources to ensure that cities and villages are rebuilt from the ground up using modern urban planning standards. This large-scale initiative, often referred to as the "Great Return," aims to facilitate the safe and dignified repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis to the Garabagh region, integrating "smart city" and "smart village" concepts to ensure economic viability and environmental protection in the post-conflict zone.
