Azerbaijan’s efforts to eliminate landmines receive boost from Marshall Heritage Institute

The Marshall Heritage Institute has proudly highlighted its long-standing partnership with the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), marking a significant milestone of 20 years of collaboration.

Elise Becker, Executive Director of the Marshall Heritage Institute, emphasized the importance of this partnership, which has seen tangible contributions to Azerbaijan’s mine clearance efforts, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"We are thrilled with the results of our collaboration over the past two decades," Becker said. "We have transferred 93 trained mine detection dogs to ANAMA, and these animals have been instrumental in detecting landmines across vast areas. To date, the dogs have assisted in search operations across more than 17 million square meters, positively impacting the lives of over 15,000 people."

Looking ahead, Becker announced that the Institute plans to continue its support by donating more trained dogs to Azerbaijan. "We aim to donate more mine detection dogs this year and next, bringing the total number of dogs provided to Azerbaijan to 100 by next year," she added.

Azerbaijan has made considerable progress in clearing its liberated territories of landmines, with ANAMA at the forefront of these efforts. Established officially by presidential decree on January 15, 2021, following the restructuring of the previous National Agency for Mine Clearance, ANAMA has taken on the crucial tasks of landmine removal, reconstruction, and facilitating the safe return of displaced Azerbaijanis.

Since its inception, ANAMA has built strong partnerships with various international mine action organizations, ensuring that its operations adhere to the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). As a result, all cleared territories are certified as safe by international bodies.

ANAMA uses a variety of demining methods, including manual demining by highly trained personnel, mechanical demining with specialized machines, and the deployment of mine detection dogs (MDDs), which have proven to be particularly effective in locating hidden explosive devices.

In addition to its operational work, ANAMA is expanding its efforts through the introduction of new technologies and training programs for demining specialists, in close collaboration with its international partners. These initiatives are essential in ensuring the continued safety of the population, accelerating post-war reconstruction, and supporting the safe return of displaced citizens to their homes.

Through the combined efforts of ANAMA, the Marshall Heritage Institute, and other international partners, Azerbaijan is making substantial strides toward eliminating the landmine threat and rebuilding its post-conflict territories.

By Tamilla Hasanova