ANAMA: Azerbaijan clears over 900 hectares from mines, unexploded ordnance WEEKLY REPORT / PHOTO

The Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) has released its weekly report on demining operations carried out in the liberated territories.

Between December 22 and 28, a total of 72 anti-personnel mines, 18 anti-tank mines, and 758 pieces of unexploded ordnance were detected and neutralised in the districts of Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Gazakh, Zangilan, as well as in the city of Khankendi, ANAMA told Caliber.Az.

In total, an area of 932,9 hectares was cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance.

Since the end of the Patriotic War, 415 people in Azerbaijan have fallen victim to landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), including 71 fatalities and 344 injuries, Ramil Azizov of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) said on December 26.

Speaking at an event organised by the Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association, Azizov highlighted that more than 248,000 hectares have been cleared of mines and UXO since the 44-day war, with specialists neutralising nearly 237,000 explosive devices, including over 40,000 anti-personnel mines.

He added that since 1991, over 3,400 Azerbaijanis have been killed or injured in mine-related incidents, including 362 minors and 38 women.

By Aghakazim Guliyev