At the 28th International Meeting of Heads of National Demining Agencies and UN Advisors in Geneva, Azerbaijan presented the problem of mines left by Armenia’s nearly 30-year occupation and the work being carried out to solve this problem. The Azerbaijan National Demining Agency (ANAMA) drew attention to the ongoing threat of mines left during the occupation period. Samir Poladov, Vice Chairman of ANAMA, who headed the Azerbaijani delegation, emphasized that mine contamination is one of the most serious humanitarian problems in the world and called for global cooperation.
During the meeting, the use of new technologies together with traditional methods in humanitarian demining was discussed. Azerbaijan has faced a heavy mine contamination due to Armenia’s occupation. Even after 44 days of the Homeland War, Armenia continues to lay new mines, hindering infrastructure renewal in liberated territories and making it difficult for displaced families to return to their homes. In 2022, more than 2,700 anti-personnel mines produced in Armenia in 2021 were found in Lachin and Kalbajar. This once again showed that the occupying state continues to deliberately lay mines.
Since 1991, more than 3,400 people have been killed or injured in mine explosions. 359 of the victims were children and 38 were women, while most of the explosions occurred in civilian residential areas, infrastructure sites and cemeteries. This data reveals that Armenia is targeting civilians rather than military targets. Despite calls from the international community, Armenia initially denied the existence of mines. Mine maps released under pressure proved to be incomplete and unreliable. The maps covered only a small fraction of the mined areas, while 25% of the data was accurate. More than 55% of recent mine explosions took place in areas not indicated on these maps.
ANAMA is leading the demining effort. Established in 1998 and restructured in 2021, the agency operates in line with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and provides international certification of cleared areas. ANAMA’s efforts play a critical role in resolving the humanitarian crisis caused by mines and in Azerbaijan’s development.
