As a result of demining operations carried out in the territories liberated from occupation, 287,385 hectares have been cleared, and 255,200 mines and other explosive ordnance (189,097 other explosive ordnance, 42,235 anti-personnel mines, 23,868 anti-tank mines) have been detected and neutralized.
elchi reports that Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), stated this during a briefing held on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Agency’s establishment.
The ANAMA chairman noted that today ANAMA carries out large-scale operations with the participation of modern technologies, innovative methodologies, mechanical demining equipment, mine-detection dogs, and highly qualified specialists:
“Azerbaijan’s humanitarian demining experience is one of the areas of activity studied with interest and cited as an example at the international level. Although the most modern technologies and mechanical means are used, the main driving force of humanitarian demining is human labor. The professionalism, precision, and responsibility of deminers are the main factors ensuring the success of every operation.”
It was noted that after the Patriotic War, one of the biggest humanitarian challenges facing Azerbaijan was the large-scale contamination of the liberated territories with mines and other explosive ordnance.
The ANAMA chairman stated that Azerbaijan is currently one of the most heavily contaminated countries in the world with mines and other explosive ordnance:
“Considering that the liberated territories have complex terrain and dense vegetation, activities in such difficult-to-access areas are the main factors that further complicate humanitarian demining operations.
The mine threat faced by our country continues to pose a serious danger to people’s lives and health, the environment, restoration work, as well as the implementation of the Great Return Program. The mine threat is not just a security issue. It is one of the main obstacles to humanitarian, social, economic, and environmental development. Each cleared land area serves the establishment of new settlements, the construction of roads, schools, hospitals, energy and water infrastructure, the development of agriculture, and the safe return of people to their native lands.
That is why one of the main priorities of the Great Return Program, implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, is humanitarian demining activity. As a result of the Agency’s activities, new areas are cleared of mine threats every day and made safe for residential, infrastructure, and agricultural purposes. In lands that were once dangerous at every step, life is reviving today, villages and cities are being built, and large-scale projects are being implemented.”