Azerbaijan's commitment to mine clearance earns global recognition Tops national funding chart

Azerbaijan has been recognized as the world leader in national funding for mine action, according to the Landmine Monitor Report 2024. 

This achievement was highlighted by Hafiz Safikhanov, Chairman of the Public Association "Azerbaijan Campaign Against Mines," during the association’s review conference, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

He stated that global financial support for mine clearance has exceeded $1 billion for the first time, a rise partly driven by increased funding for Ukraine. Safikhanov emphasized that while international support for mine action totalled $1.03 billion, only $227.3 million came from the 20 countries most affected by landmines, which represents just 22% of the global total.

Azerbaijan’s commitment to mine action was also underscored, with the country contributing significant resources to its national mine clearance programs. Notably, Azerbaijan ranked first for its own national spending on these efforts. However, Safikhanov pointed out a major issue: less than 1% of international assistance was directed to non-governmental organizations working on mine action, and only 6% was allocated to victim assistance programs.

Armenia’s mining activities during its occupation had a devastating effect on Azerbaijani territories. Over 1.5 million landmines were planted, leaving Azerbaijan as one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. The minefields have continued to cause harm to Azerbaijani civilians. Since the end of the Second Karabakh War in November 2020, 382 Azerbaijanis have been affected by landmines, including 70 fatalities and 312 injuries. In total, more than 3,400 people have been impacted by landmines, with a significant portion being children and women.

Following Azerbaijan’s victory over Armenia in the war, the country initiated a demining campaign in the territories liberated from Armenian control. However, this process has faced challenges due to Armenia's refusal to provide accurate minefield maps. Azerbaijan has received partial maps for certain regions, such as Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan, which identified over 189,000 mines. Yet, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has stated that these maps are only about 25% accurate, and experts estimate that the country will require nearly 30 years and $25 billion to fully address the mine contamination issue.

The difficulty of clearing these mines is compounded by the low effectiveness of the maps provided, with reports from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (AMAMA) stating that the maps are only 2% effective in guiding mine action efforts. Despite these obstacles, Azerbaijan has continued to prioritize mine clearance operations, aware that the region’s economic and civilian well-being depend on removing these deadly remnants of the conflict.

By Tamilla Hasanova