Kalbajar: Another group of residents has arrived in Kalbajar city under the Great Return program, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to repopulate the rebuilt city.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, on April 2, the sixth relocation to Kalbajar was conducted, involving the movement of 27 families, comprising 113 individuals, to the city.

The relocation on April 2 carries historical significance as it coincides with the date in 1993 when the Kalbajar district was occupied. This day, long remembered as one of separation and loss, is now being transformed into a symbol of revival and homecoming for the residents. Those who were displaced over three decades ago have returned with a renewed sense of pride and joy.

Upon arrival, the returnees were greeted in the first residential neighborhood by schoolchildren holding flags and performing the national anthem of Azerbaijan. The welcoming ceremony was attended by representatives from the Special Representative Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kalbajar district, the Restoration, Construction and Management Service in Kalbajar district, and the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. During the ceremony, the heads of households were handed the keys to their new apartments, which come equipped with essential utilities and high-speed internet.

This relocation is part of the first phase of the program, which has so far facilitated the return of 162 families, totaling 680 individuals, to Kalbajar's first residential neighborhood. The demographics of the relocated population include individuals across various age groups, many of whom are actively employed in both public and private sectors, contributing to the city's economic revival.

The relocation process is being executed in stages to ensure a sustainable resettlement, with consistent efforts being made to restore the city and support the returning population. The recent convoy, which departed from Tartar city, included families who had been residing temporarily across different regions of the country, primarily in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative facilities.