ANAMA clears over 1,400 hectares of mines, unexploded ordnance in Azerbaijan Photo

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) has published its weekly demining report for territories in Karabakh recently liberated from Armenian occupation, highlighting both the scale and urgency of the ongoing mine threat in the region.

According to the agency, 1 459,4 hectares of land were cleared of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) during August 18-24, Caliber.Az reports.

Operations were conducted across a broad swath of territories, including the districts of Tartar, Aghdam, Kalbajar, Khojaly, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, and Zangilan, as well as in the city of Khankendi.

In total, ANAMA teams discovered and neutralised 124 anti-personnel mines, 21 anti-tank mines, and 417 pieces of unexploded ordnance over the reporting period.

Since the 2020 Second Karabakh War, landmines laid by Armenian forces have caused 399 casualties in Azerbaijan, pushing the country’s total mine-related injuries and deaths since the 1990s to more than 3,400.

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) has cleared roughly 140,000 hectares, yet large swathes remain contaminated. Despite the deployment of all-female demining units and substantial government funding, Azerbaijan stresses that international support is essential to completely eradicate the threat.

By Aghakazim Guliyev