Azerbaijan’s Landmine Task
During the 1992-1994 First Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan and after it ended with a ceasefire, both Armenian and Azerbaijani forces laid landmines in the region, primarily placed along the former line of contact between the two opposing forces. The areas most affected by widespread landmine contamination include the districts of Aghdam, Fuzuli and Jabrayil.
The landmines not only pose a serious threat to civilians, many contaminated areas are residential and agricultural zone designated, now run-down.
Demining, Heidi Kuhn, screenshot
Nagorno-Karabakh One Million Mines Contamination
For years, Azerbaijan appears to have underestimated the challenge it would face upon liberating its territories that were illegally occupied by Armenia.
In 2019 the head of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) said: “All the Armenian-occupied areas contain around 100,000 mines. ”This assessment’s assertion turned out to be wildly optimistic and far from reality.
After studies by Azerbaijan’s government officials as well as outside experts it has been affirmed that over a million landmines, laid over decades by both sides – Azerbaijan and Armenia – may remain emplaced.
Nearly a fifth of Azerbaijan’s liberated territory is highly contaminated with landmines. Around two thirds of the territory hold humanitarian demining priority. Mine explosions are already killing and injuring people who venture into areas before they are cleared and ready for a human footstep.
The grapevine is a peace symbol. Lands contaminated with landmines require healing. Sowing “economics of peace” on former war-torn lands is a good healing starting point.
Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. This invention, patented in 1867, was a significant advancement over previous explosives like gunpowder.
Though Kühn did not receive the Nobel Prize, she intends to use the dynamite that detonates landmines to demine the face of the earth and to truly turn minds and divines to replace the landmine menace with vineyards and orchards.
Hiedi Kühn earned the title “a lady of valor and peace.”
To read the full article here: https://newsblaze.com/world/eurasia/heidi-kuhns-azerbaijans-demining-efforts-advocacy_205672/
