Azerbaijan’s landmine problem in spotlight of Italian media
Baku, August 31, AZERTAC
Italy’s leading media outlets, namely Agenzia Nova, Kmetro, and Notizie Geopolitiche have published articles highlighting Azerbaijan’s existing landmine problem in its liberated territories.
According to the reports, Baku is scheduled to host the 4th International Mine Action Conference titled “Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of Excellence for Safe Settlements” on September 2-3 this year.
Jointly organized by the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) and the United Nations Azerbaijan, the Conference will bring together government representatives, international organizations, donors, mine action institutions, experts, and other stakeholders.
The reports described the initialing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in August last year as a significant advancement of the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process. However, the landmine blasts impede the establishment of peace and resettlement of the liberated areas.
The reports mentioned that ANAMA and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed a declaration of intent in 2024. The document envisaged cooperation in the establishment of the Center of Excellence in the territory of Azerbaijan.
The Center will provide national, regional, and international training and capacity building, certification, and knowledge transfer in mine action, as well as promote research and innovation in mine action to develop the latest technologies and methodologies in humanitarian demining.
The establishment of the Center is an indicator of Azerbaijan's intention to increase its capabilities in combating mine threats and to contribute to global efforts for a mine-free world.
The articles noted that starting from 1991, over 3500 people, including 362 children and young people, and 38 women, have been either killed or injured as a result of landmine incidents, which indicates grave humanitarian consequences for local population caused by landmine contamination.
From November 2020, a total of 437 people have been affected by landmines, with 73 killed and 364 injured.
Additionally, starting from November 2020, over 297.000 hectares of territory have been cleared, with 67.015 landmines and 192.329 unexploded ordnances (UXO) neutralized.
The reports also highlighted Azerbaijan’s First State Program on the Great Return. Following the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, nearly 40.000 former IDPs have been resettled to their ancestral lands as part of the program, with up to 90,000 people currently living in the liberated areas.
Other news in this section
