Between 1988 and 1994 up to 600 000 Azerbaijani people were internally displaced by violent conflict with Armenia over the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh (NK). Most are still unable to resettle in their home areas in NK and surrounding districts. While they await the hoped for, but long delayed peace settlement, IDPs live in tents, flimsy prefabricated shelters, railway wagons, dugouts, unfinished buildings and other unsuitable shelters. The poor condition of the crowded shelters contributes to ill health among IDPs. Because the country’s economy is still suffering the disruption caused by the economic stresses and political changes associated with the collapse of the former Soviet Union, and because the additional income from oil has been slow to develop, the Government of Azerbaijan (GoA) is unable to fully support the food needs of the IDPs. These IDPs find it difficult to provide for their own needs because they have little access to land or the means of earning sufficient income. Consequently, IDPs suffer from malnutrition and the other health problems such as goitre and malaria, as revealed by recent nutritional and health surveys.
