28-07-2025
Over One Million Hectares Contaminated As Azerbaijan Faces Landmine Crisis
Head of the Quality Control Department, Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) Elnur Gasimov (left) and Turus (RAJD), Commander of the Royal Engineer Regiment (KRJ), 1st Division Headquarters, Malaysian Army, Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Colonel Rashdan Abdul Rashid (right) during the Panel session titled 'The Lasting Impact of Landmines: The Weapons of Civilian Destruction' in conjunction with the International Seminar: Towards a Landmine-Free World - Case of Azerbaijan, held at the Asian International Arbitration Centre. The session was moderated by Professor of Faculty of Defence Studies and Management, National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) Prof. Ruhanas Harun (middle). --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHTS RESERVED
Head of the Quality Control Department, Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) Elnur Gasimov delivers his introductory remarks during the International Seminar: Towards a Landmine-Free World - The Case of Azerbaijan at the Asian International Arbitration Centre. --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHTS RESERVED
By Ahmad Idzwan Arzmi & Suraidah Roslan
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Azerbaijan faces heavy landmine contamination, posing serious risks to the civilian population, socio-economic development and the environment in the affected areas.
Head of the Quality Control Department, Mine Action Agency of Azerbaijan (ANAMA), Elnur Gasimov, said that landmine locations, estimated at over 1 million hectares in the southwestern part of the country, have been linked to a total of 243 recorded incidents.
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"Unfortunately, we have seen an increased number of incidents because people have started rushing to the liberated territories, with 330 individuals injured and 70 killed.
"These figures highlight the sheer scale of the threat and the urgent need for continued international support in demining operations," he said during his keynote at the International Seminar Towards a landmine-free world-case of Azerbaijan, here on Monday.
He said as of July 2025, the Azerbaijani government had cleared over 200,000 hectares of land in the affected region, removing a total of 37,655 anti-personnel mines, 21,992 anti-tank mines and 143,010 pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
To strengthen community awareness of explosive ordnance risks, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), ANAMA, and the Azerbaijan Ministry of Education launched a joint initiative to establish Mine Awareness Groups in areas affected by mines.
'The programme also includes educational outreach through textbooks and methodological aids and the installation of warning billboards,' he said.
Meanwhile, SUHAKAM Chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus said that SUHAKAM's core principle is to advocate for the rights of all individuals, particularly vulnerable groups, and to ensure that human rights are respected and upheld universally, without taking sides in conflicts.
