Landmine threat in Azerbaijan: Foreign assistance lagging behind other countries

Farid Shafiyev, chairman of the Centre for Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), highlighted that foreign assistance for humanitarian demining in Azerbaijan is significantly lower than the level of support typically provided by the international community in other countries facing similar challenges. 

Speaking at a briefing held at the United Nations, which was organized in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN and AIR Center, Shafiyev emphasized that foreign aid to Azerbaijan’s demining efforts has accounted for just 6 percent of the total resources allocated since humanitarian demining operations began in 2020, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"This is substantially lower compared to the level of contribution made by international donors in similar contexts elsewhere," Shafiyev noted, pointing to the discrepancy in support for Azerbaijan's mine clearance operations.

The issue of landmines remains a major challenge for Azerbaijan, primarily due to the nearly 30-year occupation of its territories by Armenia. Despite the conclusion of the 44-day war, the presence of mines continues to hinder the reconstruction of these liberated areas and delay the return of displaced Azerbaijani families. These mines pose an ongoing threat to civilian lives and the development of critical infrastructure.

Even after the war, Armenia's continued use of the Lachin corridor for illicit activities, including the planting of new landmines, exacerbated the situation. In 2022, over 2,700 anti-personnel mines, manufactured in Armenia in 2021, were discovered in the Lachin and Kalbajar districts. This discovery serves as evidence of Armenia's ongoing mine-laying practices in Azerbaijani territory.

The human toll of the landmine problem has been devastating. Since 1991, more than 3,400 people in Azerbaijan have been victims of landmine explosions, including 359 children and 38 women. The majority of these incidents have occurred far from the frontlines, in civilian-populated areas, infrastructure zones, and even cemeteries. This suggests that Armenia’s mine-laying strategy was aimed not only at military targets but also at inflicting harm on civilians, further complicating Azerbaijan’s post-war recovery efforts.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly called for Armenia to provide accurate maps of minefields, but Armenia initially denied the existence of such maps. Only after significant international pressure did Armenia release some minefield maps, but these documents covered only a small portion of the affected areas and were found to be just 25% accurate. As a result, more than 55% of recent mine-related incidents have occurred outside the areas listed on these maps, highlighting the limited reliability of the information provided by Armenia.

Azerbaijan continues to struggle with the aftermath of these deliberate mine placements, which not only increase civilian casualties but also obstruct the safe return of displaced people and the reconstruction of their communities.

By Tamilla Hasanova