International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action Observed in Azerbaijan

UNDPI Representative Ms. Envera Selimovic geared up for a two-day trip to the mine-affected Fizuli region in the south-west of Azerbaijan from 3 4 April The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) also hosted colleagues from UNDP and UNICEF, leading assistance partners of ANAMA.



In the UNDPI Media Advisory released to local media before the trip, Ms. Selimovic appealed to journalists to take part in raising awareness about landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW), and their eradication for International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. "We encourage everyone to use any occasion to help renew the public and media interest in mine action," she noted.



The conflict between Armenian forces and Azerbaijan, from 1988 through 1994, resulted in the occupation of 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory and the displacement of 15 per cent of the population of Azerbaijan or about 1 million people. The conflict caused massive destruction of social infrastructure and productive resources in occupied and surrounding territories. Fizuli still partly occupied is at the heart of the Azerbaijani de-mining area. The mine threat is very acute in this region while a mine casualty had been reported from there in Boyuk-Behmenli village just a few days before the trip.



Ms. Selimovic visited ANAMA facilities in the Horadiz Camp together with Mr. Musa Jalalov, MRE Department Manager of ANAMA; Mr. Fargan Abbaszadeh, Communication Manager of the UN Development Program (UNDP) and Mr. Radoslaw Rzehak, Child Protection Manager of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to learn about the operational activities on the site.
There was also a chance to meet with de-miners, and see mechanical de-mining and mine detection dog operations.



Mr. Musa Jalalov briefed the delegation on the successful and courageous work of the ANAMA de-miners in making the affected areas safer for everyone. He underlined the need to remain vigilant regarding mine risk and supportive of mine action efforts. In March 2007 more than 27,000 mines and ERWs were found and destroyed by ANAMA, he said. He also noted that ANAMA has identified 163 million square metres of land contaminated with mines and ERW. More than 46 million square metres of affected land has been cleared and made accessible."



Highlighting UNDP’s role as an initiator of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Programme, Mr. Fargan Abbaszadeh noted that "UNDP works closely with authorities to create a national mine action capacity. From the first days of the Programme, UNDP has provided on-going support to ANAMA and helped mobilize international donor assistance including that from the European Commission, the UK, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Canada and Norway."



After this very informative tour on the field activities the delegation visited secondary schools No.2 in the Horadiz resettlement to participate in mine risk education classes, supported by the Government of Azerbaijan and UNICEF.



Mr. Radoslaw Rzehak noted that UNICEF has already been working in the field of humanitarian mine action for 12 years, and has supported activities in 35 countries, taking the lead in the development of Mine Risk Education (MRE). "In Azerbaijan, our MRE program has been implemented and coordinated in close cooperation with ANAMA since 2000. In two years UNICEF and ANAMA have been able to create a national capacity that has acted as a strong basis for performing future MRE activities even today," he added.



During the class ANAMA Representative Mr. Musa Jalalov had a lively discussion with school children. "While comparing figures with the last year, this year we have no children and women mine casualties at all. This proves that our educational programme is effective" he said after the MRE class in his interview with the LiderTV correspondent.



In terms of media coverage it seems the UNDPI Media Advisory worked excellently as a reminder for journalists to highlight the issue of mine threat which is so grave in Azerbaijan. Regional correspondents of four main nation-wide TV broadcasting stations, as well as a journalist form the leading news agency accompanied the delegation during the visit. Furthermore the UNDPI Representative invited one prominent local journalist from a central newspaper to join this trip and to prepare an in-depth report from the field.



Several local TV stations and news agencies also broadcasted the Secretary-General’s message to mark the occasion. In addition, while they were in the field, UNDPI arranged interviews with all of the participants with UN Radio, conducted by Ms. Natalya Terekhova from the Russian Service. In her words she describes what sounds like excellent feedback on continuous cooperation between the UNDPI Azerbaijan and UN Radio: "I can't remember when we've had a chance to cover a field visit in the region and I'm very thankful for your help".