Latest news with #TowardsaLandmine-FreeWorld-TheCaseofAzerbaijan
Barnama
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
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. bootstrap slideshow "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.
Barnama
28-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Azerbaijan Seeks Global Support To Achieve Landmine-free Future
Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Malaysia Irfan Davudov delivers his opening 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 Suraidah Roslan & Ahmad Idzwan Arzmi KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Azerbaijan calls on the international community to provide political support, financial assistance and technical expertise to help the country achieve a landmine-free future. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Malaysia, Irfan Davudov, said he hopes to see other countries, including Malaysia, support their initiative to be recognised globally under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). bootstrap slideshow 'We expect the Malaysian government to make a decision on this issue. I believe that financial or technical assistance from Malaysia would be highly appreciated,' he told Bernama after the International Seminar Towards a landmine-free world-case of Azerbaijan, here on Monday. He said the Mine Action Agency of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) plays an important role in the demining process in Azerbaijan, which is expected to take about 20 years and will require around US$25 billion to finance. Although the demining process will take a considerable amount of time, he is confident that it can be achieved with the support of other countries. Chair of the Steering Committee of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC), Shaharuddin Onn, said that ARMAC reaffirms its commitment to collaborating with Azerbaijan on the international stage, as ARMAC contributes to the global humanitarian mine action dialogue. Shaharuddin, who is also the Ambassador of Malaysia to Cambodia, said that ARMAC hosted the Azerbaijan Mine Action Authority (ANAMA) in 2024 to showcase ASEAN's model for inter-agency coordination in assisting victims and rehabilitation approaches for landmine contamination. 'This cooperation reflects the shared commitment between ARMAC and ANAMA. The partnership is tailored, collaborative, and based on cyber-focused solutions. In fact, I see today's seminar as part of that growing bridge in our cooperation.
