Approximately 500 million US dollars were allocated for mine action activities in 2021, and 96% of this amount was financed by the Azerbaijani government, ANAMA chairman Vugar Suleymanov said at the event titled “Post-Conflict Urban Reconstruction: The Crucial Role of Humanitarian Demining Activities” held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.
He noted that this fact clearly demonstrates Azerbaijan’s commitment to ensuring safe restoration, reconstruction and development: “Mine clearance activities not only save people’s lives, but also form the basis of restoration and reconstruction. This process creates the necessary conditions for rebuilding homes, restoring infrastructure, revitalizing agriculture, developing transport networks and supporting economic activity. Most importantly, it enables people to safely return to their native lands and rebuild their lives.”
The chairman of ANAMA stated that in recent years Azerbaijan has carried out extensive work to link humanitarian demining activities with the country’s broader restoration priorities.
“The state program developed as part of this context directly integrates mine clearance activities with urban planning, reconstruction and development processes. In total, since 2020, approximately 15 billion US dollars have been allocated by the Azerbaijani government for construction and restoration work in the civilian sector. Construction and mobility are impossible without clearing territories of mines. The return of people cannot take place without ensuring security. And without accessible and safe land, it is impossible to speak about sustainable development. This is the main message of today’s discussion. Safe and sustainable restoration begins with safe land.
Humanitarian demining activities transform contaminated territories into opportunities for reconstruction, return and the country’s sustainable development. However, this challenge is not unique to Azerbaijan. Many countries around the world face similar problems, and mine contamination continues to delay the restoration process while civilians remain at risk,” he added.
