Azerbaijan, UNICEF strengthen cooperation on mine awareness and education PHOTO

Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), recently met with Saji Farukh Abdullah, the UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan, to discuss joint efforts in educating the public about the dangers posed by landmines.

The meeting, as reported by ANAMA, focused on expanding cooperation and reviewing existing projects aimed at raising awareness on mine threats, the agency told Caliber.Az.

The mine issue in Azerbaijan has become particularly pressing after the country's recapture of areas previously occupied by Armenia. There are credible reports suggesting that Armenia may have intentionally planted mines in these territories as part of its military strategy, targeting civilians and obstructing the return of displaced populations. This has heightened the security risks in the region.

In response to the growing threat, Azerbaijan has launched an extensive demining operation, involving key government bodies like ANAMA, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the State Border Service. These agencies are working together to clear mines from the liberated areas, prioritizing the safety of returning citizens and allowing them to rebuild their lives.

Since the reclamation of most Armenian-occupied territories in November 2020, ANAMA has been at the forefront of demining efforts. In 2024 alone, the agency cleared 62,023 hectares, neutralizing 2,372 anti-tank mines, 4,256 anti-personnel mines, and 59,163 unexploded ordnance (UXOs).

Following the conflict, Armenia provided mine maps for some of the reclaimed areas, which led to the release of several Armenian saboteurs held by Azerbaijan. However, President Ilham Aliyev has stated that these maps were only 25% reliable. According to ANAMA, the maps have proved to be just 2% effective in demining operations. The Azerbaijani government estimates that resolving the mine threat in the country could take nearly 30 years and cost around $25 billion, according to international experts.

By Tamilla Hasanova