Since the end of the 2020 war, a total of 419 Azerbaijani citizens have become victims of landmines, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan reported.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that among the victims, 72 people have been killed and 347 others have sustained serious injuries. The ministry highlighted these figures following a recent landmine incident that resulted in a civilian fatality, emphasizing that landmines continue to pose a grave threat to peaceful residents.
"This situation obstructs the safe return of former internally displaced persons and hinders ongoing restoration and reconstruction work. Azerbaijan remains committed to demining efforts to ensure the safe and sustainable return of its citizens to the liberated territories and expects international partners to provide support through a unified effort," the official statement reads.
The landmine problem remains one of the primary challenges for Azerbaijan in the post-conflict era. Large areas of Garabagh and surrounding districts were heavily contaminated with explosives during the decades of occupation. Despite large-scale humanitarian demining operations conducted by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and other state bodies, the lack of accurate minefield maps continues to endanger lives and delay the socio-economic reintegration of the liberated regions.
