Over 1,500 mines, unexploded ordnance defused in liberated lands in May

By Azernews

By Vafa Ismayilova

Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency has defused 1,533 mines and unexploded ordnance on liberated territories over May 2021, a source at the agency reported. 

As part of operations carried out in May, the agency employees detected and neutralized 369 anti-personnel mines, 74 anti-tank mines, and 1,090 unexploded munitions.

In all, 739.5 hectares were cleared of mines and unexploded munitions.

In this period, the agency cleared 2,763.5 hectares of mines and unexploded ordnance.

Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenia's occupation in the 44-war in autumn 2020 are currently being demined at a high pace. The Mine Action Agency experts demine the territories intended for building roads and infrastructure facilities, and for laying cable communication lines. The territories aimed for cropping are also being cleared of mines.

Some 21 Azerbaijani citizens, including 14 civilians were killed and 87 citizens, 16 civilians were injured in mine explosions in liberated lands since the signing of the Karabakh peace deal on November 10, 2020.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev earlier described Armenia’s failure to provide the mine maps as the main difficulty for Azerbaijani IPDs to return to their homes. He said that this is yet another war crime by Armenia as several servicemen and civilians were killed in mine blasts on the liberated territories after the war.