UN-Habitat commends Azerbaijan for its comprehensive approach to recovery

Mine clearance in Azerbaijan is carried out with regard to the future designation of territories and is directly linked to the Great Return program and regional master planning, Report informs, citing statements by Head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Office in Azerbaijan Anna Soave during a panel discussion at the 4th International Mine Action Conference.

According to her, more than 103,000 hectares have already been cleared for housing construction and the development of related infrastructure. Significant areas have also been freed of landmines for the construction of highways, energy infrastructure, and other vital facilities.

"New planning is underway in more than eight cities and hundreds of towns and villages, and mine clearance is merely the first step," Soave emphasized.

She noted that this approach makes it possible to transform cleared territories into lands attractive for investment, thereby enhancing the overall sustainability of the recovery process.

The Head of the UN-Habitat Office also highlighted that the new governance model in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur ensures effective coordination between mine action, territorial reconstruction, and population return.