Azerbaijan clears over 7,000 hectares of mines, explosives in October PHOTO

The Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) has published its monthly report detailing the results of demining operations conducted across the territories liberated from Armenian occupation.

According to information provided to Caliber.Az by the agency, during October, large-scale mine clearance efforts were carried out in the Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Gazakh, and Zangilan districts, as well as in the city of Khankendi.

In total, 406 anti-personnel mines, 364 anti-tank mines, and 12,298 unexploded ordnances were discovered and safely neutralised. As a result of these operations, 7,022.1 hectares of land were cleared of mines and explosive remnants of war.

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), established in 1998, is the state agency responsible for clearing landmines, anti-tank mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other explosive remnants of war in Azerbaijan’s territories affected by conflict.

Following the 2020 war, Azerbaijan regained control over territories heavily contaminated with mines and UXOs. ANAMA’s work is crucial to ensuring the safe return of displaced people, enabling reconstruction, and allowing agricultural and economic activity in these areas.

The agency operates in coordination with the UNDP, the EU, and other international partners, and publishes monthly updates on clearance progress.

Clearing these explosives remains a long-term challenge due to the scale of contamination, varied terrain, and the need for sophisticated equipment and trained personnel.

By Vugar Khalilov