Azerbaijani women deminers clear over 3 million square metres of area Discover critical ordnance

Hafiz Safikhanov, head of the “Azerbaijan Campaign Against Mines” Public Association, has reported significant progress by women's demining teams since their inception.

"Commencing operations on September 25 of the previous year, these teams have meticulously cleared 3,203,997 square metres of land by August 15 of this year. Throughout this period, they have identified and removed 12 anti-personnel mines, 25 anti-tank mines, and 77 unexploded ordnance," he said, Caliber.Az reports.

Safikhanov detailed that the women's demining groups are currently active in the villages of Namirli and Gulluja in the Aghdam district.

"In the current year alone, these teams have cleared an additional 2,524,291 square metres. During this effort, they discovered 17 anti-tank mines and 6 unexploded ordnance," Safikhanov added.

The Karabakh and East Zangezur regions of Azerbaijan have been heavily mined by Armenian armed forces since the 1990s. Since the cessation of the 44-day Second Karabakh War, the Azerbaijani government has been conducting demining operations, led by the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), in the liberated territories to facilitate the return of internally displaced people to their homes.

Despite extensive efforts, demining operations have faced many challenges due to Armenia’s refusal to hand over accurate maps displaying the locations of landmines. Furthermore, from 2020 to 2023, Armenia laid new minefields along 500 kilometres in the territory of Azerbaijan.

According to ANAMA, in July of this year, 359 anti-personnel mines, 290 anti-tank mines, and 3,079 unexploded ordnances (UXOs) were discovered in Tartar, Aghdam, Aghdara, Lachin, Fuzuli, Shusha, Khojaly, Khankendi, Kalbajar, Khojavend, Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan. An area of 6,905 hectares was cleared of mines and UXOs.