The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the severe humanitarian consequences of landmines on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, the ministry issued a statement on its official X social media account highlighting the ongoing threat. The MFA emphasized that Azerbaijan remains among the countries most affected by landmine contamination, noting that these explosive remnants of war pose a grave danger to human life and serve as a primary barrier to large-scale reconstruction projects and the safe return of displaced persons to their homes.
The MFA appealed to the international community to strengthen support for humanitarian demining efforts and assistance for mine victims. "A mine-free future is essential for sustainable peace, development, and human security," the statement read. Since the end of the 2020 conflict, Azerbaijan has been conducting extensive demining operations in Garabagh and surrounding districts to facilitate the "Great Return" program, which aims to resettle hundreds of thousands of former internally displaced persons in their native lands, including Shusha, Aghdam, and Fuzuli.
