Over One Million Hectares Contaminated As Azerbaijan Faces Landmine Crisis

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.

Turning attention to the case of Azerbaijan, SUHAKAM profoundly recognises the immense severity of landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination currently faced by the nation.

“Therefore, while Malaysia's commendable pledge in supporting international and humanitarian efforts to ban anti-personnel mines is unwavering, we must also maintain vigilance at home. 

“It is imperative that we continue to increase public awareness about the dangers posed by all forms of ERW and ensure that our community are equipped with the knowledge of how to respond safely if such remnants are encountered,” he said.

The ANAMA plays a vital role in the demining process in Azerbaijan, which is expected to take about 20 years and will require around US$25 billion to finance.

-- BERNAMA