Mexican newspaper illuminates Azerbaijan's mine contamination problem

In a recent article published by El Universal, the prominent Mexican newspaper, titled "Minas terrestres: un flagelo que aún cobra vidas," the dire situation of landmine contamination in Azerbaijan has been brought to light.

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Mexico disclosed this alarming revelation, shedding light on the harrowing aftermath of the recent conflict in the region, Caliber.Az reports.

According to Talia Iscan, a distinguished professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and a renowned political commentator, the issue of landmines has garnered international attention due to its surprising and disheartening prevalence, particularly in the Caucasus region. Iscan emphasized the urgency of the matter, particularly following the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from Armenian occupation, which has left these areas among the most contaminated in the world.

"Recently, if you look at international statistics on this topic, the results are surprising and discouraging, especially regarding the level of pollution from mines and booby traps in the Caucasus," Iscan remarked in the article.

The scale of the crisis is staggering, with over 1.5 million mines and explosive devices per square kilometre littering the liberated Azerbaijani territories, a grim legacy of Armenia's extensive mine production during the conflict. Iscan highlighted the inadequacy of the mine maps provided by Armenia to Azerbaijan, revealing that only 25 per cent of these maps are accurate, exacerbating the challenges faced in clearance efforts.

The UN estimates that Azerbaijan will need 30 years and $25 billion to clear the territory, Iscan stated, underscoring the daunting task ahead. Moreover, with the return of internally displaced persons to these hazardous lands, the urgency of the clearance process is further magnified.

Since the conclusion of the Second Karabakh War (2020), approximately 400 Azerbaijani citizens have fallen victim to landmines, as noted by Iscan. The toll on human lives serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need for concerted international efforts to address this pervasive threat.

The article serves as a poignant call to action, urging global solidarity and support for Azerbaijan in its arduous journey towards landmine clearance and the safeguarding of civilian lives in the region.