Azerbaijani female sappers clear 117 hectares of liberated lands from mines

Female sappers have cleared more than 1,170,000 square meters (117 hectares) of Azerbaijani territories in Karabakh that were liberated from occupation.

This achievement was highlighted by the European External Action Service, Caliber.Az reports.

"We acknowledge the first year of dedicated work by courageous women sappers in Azerbaijan. Thanks to their efforts, over 1,170,000 square meters have been demined, ensuring the safety of returning residents to their ancestral lands," the statement said.

Azerbaijan established its first-ever female sappers squad in November 2023.

The persistent threat of landmines poses a significant obstacle to the repopulation of the liberated Azerbaijani lands. According to Azerbaijani government data, international experts estimate that it will take nearly 30 years and $25 billion to address demining-related issues.

Since the cessation of hostilities, the Azerbaijani government has been actively engaged in demining operations in the liberated territories to facilitate the return of internally displaced people to their homes. Despite significant efforts, these operations encountered challenges due to the inaccuracy of maps indicating the locations of landmines presented by Armenia.