UN-Habitat: Azerbaijan independently carries out over 95% of mine clearance operations

The Azerbaijani government is independently carrying out more than 95% of the country's mine clearance efforts, an experience that could serve as an important example for other states, Erfan Ali, Director of the UN-Habitat Regional Office, told journalists on the sidelines of the 4th International Mine Action Conference in Baku.

Report quotes him as saying mine contamination represents a major challenge while also placing a significant responsibility on the country.

According to the UN-Habitat representative, more than 3,000 hectares of territory have already been cleared of mines through the efforts of the Azerbaijan National Agnecy for Mine Action (ANAMA) under the government's leadership.

"It is particularly important that the government independently carries out more than 95-96% of all mine clearance work. This is an extremely significant signal and a lesson that other countries could adopt, given the ambitious goals and scale of Azerbaijan's efforts," Ali said.

Ali stressed that large-scale mine clearance operations are critically important for the subsequent reconstruction and development of the liberated territories.