Rebuilding hope amid the landmines

Anti-personnel landmines have maimed millions of people around the word.

- Thembisa Fakude

At least 1 983 people were killed and 3 663 injured in 53 countries, according to the 2024 report by the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor Group. Civilians made up 84% of the victims, with children accounting for 37%.

Efforts by a number of organisations continue to assist countries around the world in mine clearance.

Princess Diana of Wales was perhaps one of the most popular people who spearheaded and highlighted the urgency of mine clearance.

The image of her wearing a protective visor and flak jacket, walking through a minefield in Huambo, Angola, made international headlines.

Landmines continue to harm the ability of people to reach their full potential, particularly in the region of Karabakh in Azerbaijan.

Karabakh is heavily contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnances.

More than 340 Azerbaijani citizens have either been killed or injured in varying degrees due to landmines since the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

It’s estimated that 11 667 square kilometres of territory in the Karabakh Economic Region is laced with landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

According to estimates by experts, it will take decades to clear the region of the landmines and the unexploded ordnances.

Karabakh covers the southeastern stretch of the Lesser Caucasus mountain range. The region was occupied and governed by Armenia in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994. The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, also known as the 44-day war, took place from 27 September to 10 November 2020.

Azerbaijan reclaimed the Karabakh region except for a rump state connected through a narrow Russian-controlled corridor with Armenia.

On 19 September 2023, the Azerbaijani armed forces took over this area, including the ancient city of Khankendi.