Turkish humanitarian agency calls on int’l community not to ignore Azerbaijan's landmine problem

The international community should not ignore the landmine problem in Azerbaijan.

Mehmet Altintas, an employee of the Turkish IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

He noted the rapid progress of restoration and construction work in Karabakh.

"At the end of March last year, we took part in a program organized by the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency [ANAMA]. Aghdam, which we saw then, and Aghdam today are significantly different", Altintas said.

Speaking about cooperation with the ANAMA, he said that mines are a very serious problem, and demining of territories requires a lot of money.

He noted that the Foundation provides veterans and civilians with prostheses as part of its cooperation with the ANAMA. Türkiye manufactures prostheses according to world standards, which cost between €3,000 and €10,000.

"Today, twenty Azerbaijanis have been provided with these prostheses. We started this cooperation to support our Azerbaijani brothers. In the coming period, we also want to take part in the restoration and development of Karabakh", Altintash added.

ANAMA and the Turkish Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding on April 1, 2022.

IHH has been working since 1992 with the purpose of delivering aid to all people who are in need, who have experienced a catastrophe, who are victims of war, natural disaster, etc. or wounded, mutilated, starved, homeless and persecuted, wherever they are, regardless of their religion, language, race or sect, and to prevent the violation of the basic human rights and freedoms of those people. IHH’s voluntary relief activities evolved into an official organization in 1995 and spread around five continents as it established a bridge of goodwill stretching from Türkiye to 123 countries.