Azerbaijan clears over 350 unexploded ordnance in Karabakh ANAMA weekly report / Photo

The Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) announced that between July 28 and August 3, demining operations in the country’s liberated territories led to the detection and disposal of 372 explosive devices.

According to the agency’s weekly update, the munitions included 48 anti-personnel mines, 15 anti-tank mines, and 309 unexploded ordnance (UXOs), posing serious risks to civilians and reconstruction efforts, Caliber.Az reports.

The hazardous items were located across a wide swathe of territory encompassing the districts of Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khankendi, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, and Zangilan.

ANAMA reported that a total of 1,726.1 hectares were cleared during the week, as efforts intensify to ensure the safe return of displaced persons and enable infrastructure development.

Since the 2020 Second Karabakh War, Armenian-planted landmines have killed or injured 399 people, bringing Azerbaijan’s total mine-related casualties since the 1990s to over 3,400. 

Baku accuses Yerevan of refusing to provide accurate mine maps and planting explosives in civilian areas, hindering the safe return of nearly 800,000 displaced people.

ANAMA has cleared about 140,000 hectares, but vast areas remain contaminated. Despite deploying all-women demining teams and significant state funding, Azerbaijan says international assistance is crucial to fully eliminate the threat.

By Aghakazim Guliyev