Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov: 11,000 IDP families live in 117 dangerous buildings in Baku –INTERVIEW

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Mətbuat xidmətinin məlumatı 26 December, 2017

“We exposed a band collecting money from IDPs by deceiving them with delivering them apartment” APA’s interview with Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov - Up to now, 97 modern settlements for refugees and IDPs have been built. Nearly 53,000 families, 265,000 people have been moved to these settlements. How many more IDPs need to get their housing conditions improved? - Today, 343,000 IDPs live in difficult conditions, and there is a need to relocate them in new apartments. A part of those IDPs live in dangerous buildings in the cities of Baku, Sumgayit and Ganja. For this reason, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva first instructed to relocate IDPs living in damaged buildings. 11,000 IDP families - nearly 60,000 people live in 117 such damaged buildings in Baku. The Ministry of Emergency Situations gave technical opinion on such buildings where 4,000 of 11,000 IDP families live that, it is impossible to live in these damage buildings. Therefore, Mehriban Aliyeva first instructed to relocate these families. After the relocation of 4,000 families, the process of resettling the remaining 7,000 families will begin. The president increased the amount of funds allocated from the State Oil Fund to provide 343,000 IDPs with apartments. 90 million manats were allocated this year and this amount has been increased to 200 million manats for the next year. New settlements will be built around Baku and districts too. Before the drop in oil prices, 300 million manats were allocated for the construction of settlements for IDPs. We moved 4,000 families, nearly 20,000 people to new settlements every year. Unfortunately this process was suspended after the fall in oil prices. Now this process will gradually be restored. We think that there will be no problems with funds. At present, ready apartments are purchased from different places, and settlements are also being built with various resources. We should relocate 343,000 IDPs in apartments in normal conditions. Regular measures are taken to improve the living conditions of IDPs. The poverty rate among IDPs was 75 percent in 2003. This figure has dropped to 12 percent, as a result of measures undertaken by the state. At present, there are 380,000 able-bodied IDPs. 200,000 of them have been provided with permanent jobs, 160,000 with seasonal jobs, and 20,000 able-bodied IDPs should be employed. In 2016, 765 manats were spent for IDPs within a year. This is the largest amount in conflict zones around the world. It can be said that it is just 765 manat, but it costs up to 300 million manats a year. Previously, energy, gas, and water expenses of IDPs were paid by the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs. The president issued a decree this year and this became a monthly allowance for IDPs. It is also aimed at IDPs’ adaptation and self-sustenance. Because you see that, the process of return is beginning and that step is also the indicative of the president’s far-sightedness. It would have been difficult for them if we had suddenly relocated them to a newly built area. Because these people are protected here, the state is doing everything for them. It would be difficult for them to live on their own when they returned to their village. Therefore, the president issued a decree on the transition to the system of allowance. We pay every IDP 36 manats for energy, gas and water. The State Committee makes utility payments in places where meters are not installed yet. Those IDPs are paid a monthly allowance of 20 manats. As the meters are installed, this will gradually be eliminated. For example, in Bilasuvar, there was dissatisfaction with electricity, but the problem has been solved already. We knew that these difficulties would occur. People have to adapt to this. People lived on account of the aid they received. Before becoming IDP, those people worked, lived, and sustained their family. However, over the past 20 years, these people have lost their habit of keeping the family independently and working. This habit should be restored. At present, we are dealing with this process. When we tell international humanitarian organizations, let's make such rehabilitation programs, they say that there is no such things in the world. And we say to them that, we know that, but there was also no beating of refugees with a baton, either. But it did happen. We say that Azerbaijan has stepped ahead, has solved problems, now you have to work, we give you the direction; let's implement programs and projects on restoration of work habits. A large part of IDPs is a new generation and have been born as an IDP. There are already 25-year-old IDPs. IDP families have settled in different regions, their dialects have been changed; they have adopted the dialects of the districts, cuisine and traditions of the regions they settled in. If someone from Kalbajar was born and grew up in Ujar, Zardab, Kurdamir, his health and formation in the ecological environment should be changed. We say to international organizations that your duty should not just be to come and help and get your salary for living. Take trouble to spend that money on such projects and work on rehabilitation projects.