Baku - Thousands of families in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) in Azerbaijan have been given access to drinking water and better irrigation systems following IOM's rehabilitation of traditional underground water supply systems in partnership with the governments of NAR and Switzerland.

Three times as much water is now flowing through these water supply systems – known as kahrizes – in areas where the lack of water resources would otherwise have forced many families to leave their land and homes.

The project, called the Community-Owned Sustainable Water Use and Agricultural Initiatives (COSWA), began in the rural areas of NAR in November 2007 and will end on 31 May.

In total 100 kahrizes were constructed and renovated with funding from the Swiss government over a 10-year period. The 100 kahrizes provide irrigation to 3,100 households and access to drinking water for 2,700 homes.

IOM provided professional training to young kahriz technicians called kankans, introduced new technologies and designed safety, security and maintenance guidelines and mechanisms for the rehabilitation of the kahrizes.

IOM also promoted agricultural development and small businesses in the region, analysed current legislation relating to kahrizes and drafted recommendations on how to increase the long term protection of the water supply systems.

On Tuesday 24 May, the technical documentation for all 100 kahrizes will be officially handed over to authorities and the first two kahrizes constructed this century transferred to the government at an event at Nakhchivan State University to mark the successful completion of the project.

In addition, the top 15 kankans will be honoured for their outstanding commitment and performance during the kahriz renovation process.

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For more information, please contact: Vassiliy Yuzhanin IOM Azerbaijan Tel: +994.12.465 90 71/72 E-mail: vyuzhanin@iom.int