BY any measure, landmines remain one of the deadliest legacies of war. Hidden beneath fields, roads, forests, and former settlements, they continue to claim lives long after the guns have fallen silent. For Azerbaijan, the challenge is particularly acute as the country rebuilds territories liberated after decades of conflict.
More than five years after the end of the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, humanitarian demining remains one of the largest and most complex tasks facing the country. Landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to endanger civilians, delay reconstruction projects, and hinder the safe return of thousands of displaced families seeking to rebuild their lives in the liberated territories.
Official estimates indicate that more than one million landmines and an unknown number of explosive remnants of war remain scattered across roughly 12 percent of Azerbaijan's territories, making the country one of the world's most heavily mine-contaminated regions affected by conflict.
The human cost of this contamination remains significant. Since November 2020, 427 individuals have been affected by landmine incidents, resulting in 73 deaths and 354 injuries, with civilians accounting for the majority of casualties. Since 1991, the total number of mine victims has exceeded 3,500, including a significant number of children and women.
The scale of contamination has made mine clearance one of the most urgent priorities in Azerbaijan's recovery efforts. Demining is considered as a prerequisite for reconstruction, infrastructure development, and the successful implementation of the country's "Great Return" program, which seeks to facilitate the return of former internally displaced persons to their homes.
Thus, humanitarian demining remains one of Azerbaijan's top national priorities. More than 90 percent of mine action activities are financed through national resources, reflecting the country's strong commitment to addressing the humanitarian consequences of mine contamination and creating safe conditions for reconstruction, development, and the return of displaced communities.
The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), the country's mine action institution, is leading these efforts. According to ANAMA, in 2025 demining teams cleared more than 69,000 hectares of land and detected and neutralized over 52,000 unexploded ordnance items, nearly 5,000 anti-personnel mines, and more than 1,800 anti-tank mines. Despite this significant progress, international experts estimate that the complete clearance of contaminated territories could take decades due to the scale and complexity of the challenge.
Recognizing that mine action is a global challenge requiring collective solutions, Azerbaijan has actively promoted international cooperation and knowledge-sharing in recent years through a number of forums and conferences dedicated to humanitarian demining, recovery, and sustainable development. Building on these efforts, Baku will host the 4th International Mine Action Conference on 2–3 September 2026, jointly organized by ANAMA and the United Nations. The event is expected to bring together government representatives, international organizations, donor agencies, and technical experts from around the world to exchange best practices, explore innovative technologies, and strengthen cooperation in mine action.
Within the framework of international cooperation, Azerbaijan has also strengthened ties with the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC). Over the past several years, ANAMA and ARMAC have exchanged expertise on humanitarian demining and capacity-building. The growing partnership has included regular exchanges between ANAMA and ARMAC under the leadership of ARMAC Executive Director Rothna Buth, focusing on support for post-conflict recovery and sustainable development in mine-affected areas.
As one of the world's most heavily mine-contaminated countries, Azerbaijan's experience underscores that the legacy of war extends far beyond the battlefield. Every hectare cleared helps save lives, restore communities, and support the safe return of displaced families, highlighting the vital role of humanitarian demining in achieving lasting peace and sustainable development.