Aghdam, a formerly prosperous Azerbaijani town of over 150,000 people, stands empty and deserted since it was attacked and destroyed by Armenians on July 23 1993, its inhabitants killed or forced to flee. 

It is still under the control of Armenians and is officially a no-go zone. Only the shells of buildings remain: no belongings, no signs of life. Only the occasional rusted body of a car, and the rather incongruous local shop provide clues to any sign of life here in the past twenty years.

But probably the most remarkable aspect of Aghdam is not the scale of the destruction, or the systematicity with which it must have been carried out – which are certainly impressive – but the way in which the remains of the town are being taken over by some of the most beautiful wildlife. 

The pictures I have fail to capture the diversity and beauty of the birds that circle the once-bustling city that stood strategically on the Silk Route and swoop through the empty carcasses of houses, schools, shops, their vivid oranges, yellows and greens a surprising change from the almost arid, yellowing grasses that have encroached on to roads and paths, masking the layout of the town as it once was. 

Cows also graze amongst the ruins; I even spotted a wild horse poke its head out from behind a crumbling wall. There was something uplifting, yet simple and beautiful, about seeing this wildlife – such vibrant, beautiful life – emerge from a scene of such horror. That was what struck me as important about Aghdam.

(katebellamydworak.wordpress.com)

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