ANAMA: Demining operations in Aghdam’s Sarijali village near completion PHOTO

The demining process at the “Sarijali 008” site in Aghdam district is nearing completion, according to Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijani Mine Action Agency (ANAMA).

Speaking to reporters, Suleymanov said clearance work is currently focused on the area of Sarijali village, where land has been allocated to returning citizens for agricultural use, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“In accordance with the ’Great Return’ plan, the process of resettlement and accommodation of the population in the territories liberated from occupation continues. As the first stage, we have cleared the territory of Sarijali village,” he stated.

The ANAMA official noted that in the second stage, it is necessary to clear agricultural land in the vicinity of Sarijali village to enable local residents to carry out agricultural activities.

Sarijali, located along the former line of contact, is among the most heavily mined areas, with mine clearance efforts ongoing for nearly three decades.

“Mine contamination is extremely high. But our teams are working here quite successfully. At present, the demining of the Sarijali 008 site is nearing completion,” Suleymanov said.

He further reported that since the end of the 44-day Patriotic War, approximately 35,000 hectares of land in Aghdam district have been cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance.

"Demining activities are carried out not only in the areas liberated from occupation, but also in Gazakh district,” he noted.

Suleymanov stated that to this date, more than 206,000 hectares of territory have been completely cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance, about 199,000 mines and unexploded ordnance have been discovered and neutralised.

Azerbaijan continues to grapple with the deadly legacy of a 30-year conflict and occupation by Armenia, which left an estimated 12 per cent of the country’s territory contaminated with around 1.5 million landmines and vast amounts of unexploded ordnance (UXOs). This makes Azerbaijan one of the most heavily mine-affected nations in the world.

Since the 2020 Second Karabakh War, landmines have killed or injured 397 people, adding to a toll of more than 3,400 mine victims since the early 1990s — among them many women and children. The ongoing humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by Armenia’s refusal to provide accurate minefield maps and the deliberate planting of mines in civilian areas.

Mine clearance remains an urgent priority for Azerbaijan. 

By Sabina Mammadli