Azerbaijan: people affected by flooding demand full compensation

Today in Azerbaijan residents of four villages of Sabirabad District held the second for the last week mass action, demanding to pay full compensation for the damage which they suffered during the floods of May and June 2010 in the Kura and Araz Rivers.

Unlike the protest of June 30, which was held in front of the building of the Executive power of the Sabiribad District, on July 4 about 500 residents of the villages of Askerbeyli, Gasymbeyli, Yukhary Akhtachy and Muradbeyli gathered at the highway, where on May 5 Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev held an unscheduled meeting with local residents.

Then the leader of state promised to assist residents in solving their problems, said Ilham Amiraslanov, the villager of Askerbeyli.

According to Ilham Amiraslanov, about 5 thousand people live in four villages. The flood affected about 1 thousand houses. However, only 200 houses are restored up to date. "Until now, most people stay with their relatives. Some people just somehow adapted their damaged houses for living," said Ilham Amiraslanov.

He stressed that the local residents received partial compensation for property damage and damage to their farms, and 150 families did not receive any compensation at all.

Geydar Yagubov, the deputy head of Sabirabad District on agrarian affairs, and agents from the local police department and Ministry for National Security came to the protest action held by the inhabitants of four villages. Local residents gave the officials the petition demanding to restore all the houses in these four villages and to pay additional money for compensation of farms damage.