Azerbaijan calls for increased demining support amid persistent mine hazards left by Armenia

Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (Parliament) has issued a statement on the occasion of April 4, International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance in the country.

The statement calls for increased international support for Azerbaijan’s demining efforts, emphasizing the significant challenges the country faces in clearing landmines left behind by Armenia during its 30-year military occupation, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

According to the statement, Armenia is responsible for contaminating over 13 per cent of Azerbaijan’s territory with approximately 1.5 million landmines. This widespread mine contamination continues to pose a serious risk to the civilian population, hinder socio-economic development, and delay the restoration of liberated areas. The statement underlines the severe consequences of this situation, including impeding the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes.

Azerbaijan has called attention to the fact that the landmines were laid without adhering to international norms, often without proper marking, and in many cases, without any military necessity. Furthermore, after the cessation of hostilities in 2020, Armenia failed to provide Azerbaijan with accurate minefield maps, continuing to plant mines in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories. The statement from the Milli Majlis stresses that Armenia's actions were aimed at causing civilian casualties, obstructing reconstruction efforts, and preventing the return of displaced persons.

Since the war’s end in 2020, some 388 Azerbaijani citizens, the majority of them civilians, have been injured by mine blasts. This alarming statistic underscores the ongoing danger faced by the population in areas previously under occupation.

The Milli Majlis has called on the international community to exert pressure on Armenia to take responsibility for its actions, particularly by providing accurate minefield maps to Azerbaijan. The statement also advocates for increased international assistance to Azerbaijan in its demining efforts, recognizing the vast resources needed to clear the mines and ensure the safety of citizens and the successful recovery of the affected areas.

By Vafa Guliyeva