UNDP Brussels office director discusses mine action with Azerbaijan's EU delegation

Every hour, one person falls victim to mines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices.

Camilla Brückner, the director of the UNDP Brussels office, highlighted this grim statistic in a social media post on X, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

"We were pleased to engage in a discussion with the Azerbaijani Delegation to the EU on demining efforts in Azerbaijan. Since 2021, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has mobilized over $16 million for this cause, thanks to support from the EU, the UK, Italy, and many other partners," Brückner stated.

On July 4, a conference titled "Elimination of the Mine Problem: Environmental Consequences and Response Policy" was held in Brussels. Organized by the Brussels Diplomatic Academy (BDA) at Vrije Universiteit, the event brought together representatives from mine-affected countries, donors, and mine action NGOs. The goal was to share experiences, discuss challenges, and initiate a crucial dialogue on sustainable approaches to mine detection and clearance.

The conference emphasized the importance of innovation in mine clearance, both in methods and personnel composition, such as the establishment of all-female demining teams in Azerbaijan.

Representatives from Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Chad, and Colombia shared the specific threats posed by landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices in their countries. These threats include devices planted decades ago and those more recently placed, even after the ban on anti-personnel mines.

During the conference, an agreement was signed for the Belgian Government to provide 250,000 euros to continue demining work in Azerbaijan's Aghdam region. This work is being carried out by the Belgian NGO APOPO (Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling - "anti-personnel mine detection product development").