The State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, together with the UN Development Program, has launched a project on "Early recovery and community resilience of vulnerable groups in the Fizuli, Agjabadi and Tartar regions of Azerbaijan."

Opening the event, Mrs. Bahar Muradova, the Chairperson of the Committee, talked about the long-term cooperation between the Committee and the UN Development Program, and and expressed confidence that the project will be successfully implemented.

It was noted that the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which lasted about two months, resulted in the injury and psychological trauma of the hundreds of people, death of 100 civilians and destruction of the communications and buildings.

Mrs. Bahar Muradova also noted that the state is working to assess the situation and calculate the damage caused by military operations.

Mrs. Bahar Muradova pointed out that the new project will help not only women, but also all victims of the war, including children and people with disabilities. The project will provide socio-economic support to war victims, as well as increase employment opportunities, and provide psychological and business counseling services.

Speaking later, Mr. Alessandro Fraccassetti, the UNDP Resident Representative thanked the State Committee for the initiative. He stressed that the new model project will help both women and other vulnerable groups affected by the war.

Giving detailed information about the project, Mrs. Leyla Fathi, UNDP Program Adviser said that the project is aimed at serving for most vulnerable part of the people in three war-affected areas - Fizuli, Agjabadi and Tartar by establishing “Community Resource Centers” as a part of Early Rehabilitation and Community Sustainability Program. The format of Community Resource Centers is based on the model of Women's Resource Centers, which has been successfully implemented by UNDP since 2011 and is currently active with employment and self-employment support services for women in 10 regions. The services of all three centers can also benefit the surrounding areas, especially Barda and Agdam. The centers will help identify the most important needs of communities, as well as provide socio-economic rehabilitation support to women, children and people with disabilities, including housing, psychosocial and employment counseling services.

Afterwards, Mr. Rafil Huseynov, Head of Agjabadi District Executive Power, Mr. Ali Aliyev, Head of Fuzuli District Executive Power and Mr. Mustaqim Mammadov, Head of Tartar District Executive Power expressed confidence that the new project would support the development of communities in the regions and appropriate conditions would be created in the region for its implementation.