“Over 13 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory has been contaminated by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. To date, only 24.3 percent of the contaminated areas have been cleared,” said Shahriyar Hajiyev, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, while delivering a statement during an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Most concerningly, since 2020, more than 400 Azerbaijani citizens, including women and children, have been killed or injured in mine incidents.

According to him, reconstruction following armed conflict and occupation, which caused widespread destruction, remains a key national priority.

“Azerbaijan has made significant progress in post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, allocating more than USD 16 billion to rebuilding cities, towns and villages destroyed during the conflict. Through the implementation of the Great Return Program, nearly 100,000 people are now living, working and studying in newly constructed communities across 48 residential areas,” Hajiyev noted.

The diplomat emphasized that the threat posed by landmines underscores the need for accountability and adequate international assistance for humanitarian demining efforts, thereby strengthening national efforts to restore the human rights of IDPs.

Hajiyev described the clearance of landmines, other explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices as a prerequisite for restoring livelihoods, achieving economic recovery and securing durable solutions.

“Azerbaijan reaffirms its commitment to creating an enabling environment for the full realization of the human rights of IDPs and stands ready to share its best practices and experience in post-conflict recovery and reconstruction,” he added.