Azerbaijan shines spotlight on landmine crisis at UN photo exhibition PHOTO 

A photo exhibition dedicated to the issue of landmines in Azerbaijan and the humanitarian demining efforts in the liberated territories has opened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, the exhibition features over 40 photographs highlighting the landmines and unexploded ordnance found in the liberated areas of Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The exhibition prominently showcases the work of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA). The images capture the specialists involved in demining operations, their protective gear, mine detectors, various training ordnance, and the explosive devices and types of landmines discovered in the liberated districts of Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Aghdam, Tartar, and Khankendi.

In addition, the exhibition includes powerful visuals of the destruction caused by landmine explosions, featuring damaged vehicles, as well as images of specially trained rats and dogs used in mine detection operations. 

The photo exhibition is held in observance of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, which is commemorated annually on April 4. Its goal is to raise global awareness of the landmine issue in Azerbaijan and the efforts being made to address it. Azerbaijan is one of the countries most affected by the landmine threat. 

Over the course of 30 years of occupation, Armenian armed forces planted more than one million landmines across Azerbaijan’s historical territories. Humanitarian demining has become a top priority of the country's state policy, with more than 90 percent of these efforts currently funded through Azerbaijan’s own resources. 

April 4, the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005. On this day, Azerbaijan hosts a range of events at the United Nations to further raise awareness and drive international cooperation on this critical issue.

By Naila Huseynova