Briefing: “Saving Lives through Humanitarian Mine Action in Azerbaijan”

United Nations Headquarters, New York, April 4, 2025

By Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Center of Analysis of International Relations

Introduction

As a result of nearly three decades of military occupation by Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan faces a significant challenge due to contamination of its territories with landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW).

The laying of landmines by Armenia occurred not only during the former conflict but also continued after its end in November 2020. Armenia’s emplacement of landmines persisted until its remaining troops were compelled to vacate Azerbaijani territory as a result of the anti-terror measures conducted by Azerbaijan on September 19-20, 2023. 

The extensive contamination from the explosives poses an obstacle to socio-economic development, perpetually endangering human lives and stands as the primary impediments to the safe and expedited return of 800,000 former internally displaced persons (IDPs) into their ancestral territories.

These mines significantly restrict access to vital resources, damage environment, obstruct agricultural endeavors, and delay the essential reconstruction works and development of infrastructure, thereby exacerbating the challenges former IDPs face in their quest to return to their original homes.

Statistics

Azerbaijan is among the most heavily mine-contaminated countries globally, with an estimated 1.5 million landmines and unknown number of ERWs contaminating more than 13 % of the country’s territories. The latest survey indicates that total contaminated area in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan stands at approximately 11,667 square kilometers (out of 86,600 sq.km total territory).

Over the last 30 years, since 1991, the cumulative toll of landmine victims in Azerbaijan is more than 3400. From the end of war in 2020 until 31 December 2024, 388 people (70 killed and 318 wounded), including youth adolescents and women, became of victims of landmine explosion incidents, underscoring the urgent need for international assistance for mine clearance and victim assistance in Azerbaijan.

Progress made

The end of war in November 2020 marked the beginning of an extensive humanitarian demining works to restore safety and facilitate the rehabilitation works in the liberated territories.

Since the end of war in 2020, important progress has been attained in demining operations, with a total of 179.791.8 hectares of land successfully cleared of 56.460 mines and 121.188 ERWs.

The total area cleared constitutes approximately 15.4% of the total estimated contaminated area, and the number of found landmines constitutes approximately 3.8% of the estimated 1,5 million landmines.

Armenia’s refusal to present accurate maps of landmines it planted on Azerbaijani territory complicates the demining efforts.

Mine Action Policy

Azerbaijan has developed a comprehensive policy framework and solid capacity to tackle the challenges posed by landmines, reflecting a multifaceted approach that prioritizes human security. This policy also underscores Azerbaijan’s commitment to fostering international human solidarity, actively pursuing global initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of landmines. By seeking collaborative efforts and partnerships, Azerbaijan demonstrates its dedication to a collective response to this pressing issue.

While addressing its mine problem, Azerbaijan has simultaneously launched multiple initiatives to bring the international community’s attention to this matter:

• In December 2024, Azerbaijan’s Parliament adopted "Law on Mine Action". The new law will regulate and govern mine action activities, including the organization and implementation of demining operations in Azerbaijan.

• Azerbaijan has officially declared humanitarian demining as the 18th National SDG.

• Within the project jointly implemented among the EU, UNDP, and ANAMA, the agency has established the first female demining teams in Azerbaijan as a part of promoting gender mainstreaming in mine action.

• Upon Azerbaijan’s initiative, a resolution titled “Impact of landmines on cultural property” was adopted on December 11, 2023, at the 15th meeting of high contracting parties to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property during Armed Conflict” at UNESCO.

• In November 2024, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution titled “Missing Persons” introducted by Azerbaijan first time included a provision [proposed by Azerbaijan] expressing concern over the impediments caused by landmines to efforts in identifying the whereabouts of missing persons and calling on States to cooperate [in this regard] in ensuring the safe search for human remains.

• On 1 April 2025 at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, Azerbaijan co-sponsored (presented) resolution entitled “The impact of anti-personnel mines on the full enjoyment of all human rights”, which was adopted on April 4. The resolution calls upon all states and other relevant stakeholders to accelerate demining efforts and ensure inclusive, non-discriminatory and comprehensive victim assistance. It also emphasizes the importance of mine awareness education, medical care and rehabilitation services for victims. The

• Upon initiative by the President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the Non-Aligned Movement established a Contact Group on Humanitarian De-mining during the NAM’s Ministerial Meeting in July 2023 in Baku. The Group commenced its activities by holding the inaugural meeting in September 2023, in New York.

• During the first day of the 3rd International Conference on the landmine issue (May 30-31, 2024, in Zangilan and Baku), the Statement of Intent between UNDP and ANAMA was signed on cooperation in establishment of the ANAMA-UNDP International Centre of Excellence and Training for Mine Action in the territory of Azerbaijan.

International Assistance

The Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA), established in 1998, in collaboration with partners, has spearheaded demining operations, capacity building initiatives, and awareness-raising activities to mitigate the risks posed by landmines and ERW.

A significant partnership among the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and ANAMA has led to the launch of a new project, funded with a budget of 4.25 million Euros, aimed at facilitating the safe return of former IDPs to liberated areas.

ANAMA cooperated with UNICEF on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) with financial support from European Union.

Saudi Arabia provided 3 million USD direct assistance to ANAMA to support its demining operations. The United Arab Emirates has extended support to Azerbaijan's demining efforts with a donation of 5 million USD. Croatia made in-kind contribution of 8 mine-detection dogs

Other donors are the US, the UK, Hungary and other European countries.

The NGOs partnered with are the UK-based Mine Advisory Group, the US-based Marshall Legacy Institute, Belgium-based APOPO, and Swiss-based Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

Assistance needed

Whereas, since the start of large-scale humanitarian demining works in 2020, foreign assistance has accounted for only 6% of the resources dedicated to humanitarian demining in Azerbaijan. This is notably low, both in light of the gravity of demining challenges Azerbaijan confronts and when compared to the level of contributions typically made by the international donor community to similar issues elsewhere.

The most critical form of assistance needed at this juncture is direct financial donations. Azerbaijan needs in-kind contribution – equipment, personnel, training. Support needed from foreign partners in humanitarian demining: direct assistance, in-kind contribution (equipment, personnel, training, etc.) and collaborative actions.

Priorities

In order to increase the scale of the cleared areas and minimize the risks to civilians, the priorities are the followings: 

• Direct financial assistance and in-kind contributions (equipment, advanced technologies, mine detection dogs, explosive transportation vehicles and containment chambers, etc.)

• Support for female demining teams;

• Local awareness measures about the danger of landmines and ERWs, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, education program, etc.

• Mine Victim Assistance (providing prostheses, delivering medical care, psychological and social support, etc.).

• Raising international awareness about Azerbaijan's landmine problem;

There are many more efforts the international community should undertake, but the path rests on some concrete steps on this difficult way.