Azerbaijan Government spent $153 million in 2005 for needs of refugees and IDPs

The government of Azerbaijan spent $153 million in 2005 for the needs of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), the vice Premier of the Azerbaijan government, chairman of the State Committee on work with refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov said today at the meeting with participation of international humanitarian organizations and donors, Trend reports.

According to him, $60 million from this amount has been allocated by the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAR), $10 million – by the State Oil Company (SOCAR), the rest part – by the state budget. International institutions donated about $30 million for these purposes last year.

The funds have been sent for implementation of various programs and projects, related to the building of villages for the Azerbaijan IDPs, developing infrastructure there, providing various social aid to the people from this category.

140,000 refugees and IDPs have been provided in 2005 the food aid, the head of the State committee said. During this period 13 villages for 3860 houses, 15 schools, 5 kindergartens, 10 medical objects have been constructed, the road stretching for 114 km, 140 km water pipeline and etc. have been laid. 25,000 of them have been provided with jobs.

"The government of Azerbaijan keeps the problems of refugees and IDPs in the focus of its constant attention, each year enhancing its care of them. However, it is not sufficient for resolving the problems of all these people. They will need humanitarian aid till their complete returning to their homelands," Hasanov said.

According to him, the poverty level among the Azerbaijan refugees and IDPs is today 57%, while throughout Azerbaijan this figure is 27-29%.

The spokesman of the UNO High Commissariat on Refugees in Azerbaijan William Tall, deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadkuliyev, representatives of all international and local humanitarian organizations and financial institutions operating in Azerbaijan took part in the meeting.