UN stresses mine clearance as key to sustainable development in Azerbaijan

The UN office in Azerbaijan has reiterated the importance of mine clearance as a vital component for sustainable development, expressing its ongoing commitment to support Azerbaijan in this crucial area.

“We are saddened by the latest news of landmine incidents that left 4 people severely injured, including young children. UN in Azerbaijan recognizes the urgency of humanitarian mine action as one of the prerequisites for sustainable development and stand ready to continue to support Azerbaijan,” Caliber.Az reports per the message of the UN office in Azerbaijan on X.

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 per cent accurate. As a result, more than 55 per cent 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 struggling 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 Naila Huseynova