BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 20. After the women's demining team project's introduction, 54 people overall registered to join the Azerbaijani team, including contenders for a paramedic post, said Hafiz Safikhanov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Campaign Against Landmines Public Union, Trend reports.
He made the statement at the press conference on the outcomes of the "Strengthening International Support to Azerbaijan in Demining" project.
He pointed out that training for 33 women, who were in tip-top shape both physically and mentally, kicked off on June 16, 2023.
"The International Eurasian Press Foundation, the local project executor, and the UK-based Mines Advisory Group (MAG), another international partner in the project, conducted the training sessions at the Tartar Regional Office. Currently, four teams, consisting of three exclusively female teams and two mixed teams, engage 25 women (including 23 sappers and 2 paramedics) in demining operations. The activities of two teams are funded by the US State Department through MAG, while the other two teams are funded by the European Union through the UN Development Program," the chair emphasized.
He went on to say that the women's demining teams are really going the extra mile by clearing a mined area in Namirli village of Aghdam district and a former battlefield in Gulluja village.
"Furthermore, technical surveys are underway in the village of Gulluja. In 2024, these female-led demining teams cleared 2,524,291 square meters of land, finding 6 UXOs and 17 anti-tank mines. These operations involve professionals from the International Eurasian Press Foundation, as well as rats and dogs trained to detect mines from the Belgian organization APOPO. The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) sends out mine trawls when called upon.
Since commencing their activities on September 25, 2023, until August 15, 2024, the women’s demining teams have cleared a total of 3,203,997 square meters of land, uncovering 12 anti-personnel mines, 25 anti-tank mines, and 77 unexploded ordnances," he added.
To note, following the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan began operations in November 2020 to sweep its lands clean of mines, booby traps, and other weaponry that the illegal Armenian forces had left behind.
Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel