Baku - IOM Azerbaijan continues its efforts to provide reintegration assistance to returnees – citizens of Azerbaijan who voluntarily returned from abroad under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) projects. Such assistance is intended to ensure the sustainability of returns, i.e., to help individuals who return voluntarily to their countries of origin firmly re-establish themselves as part of the home society.

IOM Azerbaijan has been implementing reintegration assistance activities for Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, Spain, and Turkey.

In the first half of 2022, 406 nationals voluntarily returned to Azerbaijan under AVRR projects. The top return countries were Moldova (153 persons), Germany (152 persons), Netherlands (58 persons), Poland (15 persons), Latvia (7 persons), and Austria (7 persons).

During the reporting time, under the AVRR projects, extensive reintegration counseling sessions with returnees were conducted by IOM Azerbaijan staff.

IOM Azerbaijan provided cash assistance to 274 nationals, 194 of these people received additional in-kind assistance, which ranged from assistance with temporary housing (39 persons), start-up of small business (17 persons), purchasing of home appliances and furniture items (137 persons), to covering health-related and educational needs (3 persons and 1 person respectively).

Within the framework of the AVRR projects, returnees were provided with assistance in setting up small business activities, providing temporary housing, assistance with necessary household items, and meeting medical needs. With the support of the IOM, individuals who voluntarily returned from abroad to their home country have established their entrepreneurial activities in the field of small farming (purchase of small and cattle), service sector, small trade, and production.