Forbes highlights Azerbaijan's landmine problem, draws parallels with Ukraine

Forbes has highlighted the landmine problem in Azerbaijan and Ukraine, bringing to the fore the fact that the most fertile lands of these countries are contaminated with landmines, and huge funds are needed to clear these territories, Report informs.

Investigative journalist Joseph Hammond in his article reminded that the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan was liberated after 30 years of occupation, and brought to the attention of readers that this region was also massively mined, like the Ukrainian territories.

"Azerbaijan recaptured large swathes of its internationally recognized territory that had been seized by Armenian separatists in the closing days of the Soviet Union and occupied for three decades in 2020," reads the article.

Like Ukraine, those lands are now heavily contaminated with Soviet-era landmines. And like Ukraine, that land too has agricultural potential that Azerbaijan hopes to tap. Thanks to ongoing de-mining efforts, some 50,000 hectares there were planted with grain crops last year, according to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Agriculture.

Azerbaijan has made de-mining a top priority because hundreds of thousands of former internally displaced people (IDPs) hope to return to their homes and rebuild ruined towns. The region was once known for its agricultural products.

The author also quotes Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on this issue.

“As a result of the liberation of territories of Azerbaijan, we are now in the active phase of development of those lands with respect to infrastructure, including agricultural development. Because the agricultural potential in the liberated areas is really very impressive,” the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev said earlier this year.

"This urgent need to de-mine the liberated territories is one of Azerbaijan’s “most important issues” was reiterated by President Aliyev during an appearance at the Azerbaijan’s Global Media Forum last month. Addressing hundreds of international delegates in the city of Shusha – itself also in an area still heavily contaminated by mines – that some 300 Azerbaijanis have been killed or injured by landmines since Azerbaijani recovered the region. It’s a similar story in Ukraine with a grim twist. According to Save The Children, an NGO, one in eight of those injured in Ukraine are children," reads the article.

But one of the biggest hurdles to de-mining is cost. While the cost of producing a landmine is relatively cheap from $3 to $75 according to the International Red Cross, the cost of removing a single mine can range from $300 to $1,000. Even for Azerbaijan, a relatively wealthy country owing to its abundant natural gas resources, this poses a major challenge. For Ukraine, it will be worse.

“We received several proposals from several international companies to work in this area but unfortunately the price was very high…on average 8 to 10 times [the local cost],” President Aliyev said.

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) – established in 1998 with a mandate to de-mine the country with the support of the United Nations has developed innovative approaches to de-mining. Over the years it has also been supported by the US government. Today the agency is training new volunteers from amongst IDPs.

ANAMA has also been involved in other projects such as micro-lending initiatives to help restore the livelihoods of IDPs.

This is a model that could work well In Ukraine.

At the same time, the author touched upon another problem faced by Azerbaijan, in particular, reminding that Yerevan didn't provide maps of minefields to Baku or the data of the maps provided were incomplete. He suggested that Ukraine could face a similar situation.

"Should Ukraine emerge victorious in its war with Russia, it is unlikely Putin will be any more forthcoming with the provision of mine maps. In both cases the chaos of the battlefield, changing weather patterns, floods, and other issues could lead to such maps having limited utility. Especially in cases where landmines were planted years if not decades in the past."

Joseph Hammond writes in his article that Azerbaijan applied for the services of the APOPO organization to combat mines. It is noted that this structure is known for using both dogs and giant pouched rats for mine clearance.

"Both animals have sensitive noses which can be trained to sniff out hints of explosives. Some APOPO rats have also been trained to sniff out tuberculosis in patients. The large rats work for peanuts – literally," reads the article.

This year a Ukrainian mission visited Azerbaijan to better understand Azerbaijan’s approach to de-mining. Middle Eastern representatives have also visited Azerbaijan to better understand its mine-clearance strategy. A joint Saud-Azeri company has been formed to apply Azerbaijan’s know-how and technologies in other parts of the world.

The author also highlighted in his article the message of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Baku is ready to assist Kyiv in the field of mine clearance.

"In both countries however, the battle against landmines will take years if not decades. In the case of Ukraine some grim analysts suggest it could take centuries unless new and innovative solutions are tried to decontaminate the roughly 30% of Ukrainian territory that is currently mined. Yet, in neither country is it an impossible struggle as both countries are home to diligent individuals and organizations committed to ensuring farmers can one day plant again."