Approximately 32,000 people have settled in Khankendi, Khojaly, and Aghdara as large-scale infrastructure projects and restoration works continue in the region. Out of this total, 8,153 individuals, comprising 2,011 families, are former internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have returned to their ancestral lands.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Elchin Yusubov, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi and the districts of Aghdara and Khojaly, made these remarks during an event titled "Post-conflict urban planning: Restoring destroyed identity and rebuilding an integrated future." The event was held at the Azerbaijan pavilion within the framework of the 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13). "Out of the 116 existing settlements in the area, 20 have been restored, ensuring the return of the population," he added.
The restoration of these territories is a central component of Azerbaijan's "Great Return" program, a comprehensive state initiative aimed at the sustainable resettlement of citizens and the economic reintegration of liberated lands. Following the restoration of its territorial integrity, Azerbaijan has prioritized the reconstruction of urban centers like Khankendi and Khojaly, focusing on "smart city" concepts, modern infrastructure, and the preservation of cultural heritage. The World Urban Forum, established by the UN, serves as a premier global platform for discussing sustainable urbanization, providing a venue for Azerbaijan to showcase its post-conflict reconstruction model to the international community.
