Mine clearance agency, UNDP extend co-op for three years
The United Nations Development Program and the
Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) signed an
agreement on the third phase of their joint project last
Wednesday.
The objective of the new phase of the project, entitled "Further Strengthening and Expansion of Mine Action Capacity in Azerbaijan" is to provide ANAMA with an additional three years (2009-2011) of technical, advisory, networking and promotional support. Specifically, UNDP will help ANAMA sustain and expand its ability to effectively clear mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), mine-risk education, mine-victim assistance, international networking and support to other mine-affected countries.
The third phase of the project is valued at $6.6 million, with $640,000 of the amount to be provided by UNDP, while the rest will come from the Azerbaijani government.
The Director of ANAMA, Nazim Ismailov, and the UNDP Resident Representative, Bruno Pouezat, signed the project document at a ceremony hosted by ANAMA.
The project will also help ANAMA evolve into an International Center for Mine Action. On numerous occasions in the past, ANAMA has already provided training assistance to neighboring countries. ANAMA is now determined to formalize this training by establishing a fully-funded International Mine Action Resource & Training Centre, to complement other similar Centers (Nairobi, Cranfield, etc.) for teaching skills and knowledge and in sharing information among the international mine action community.
The ANAMA director pointed out that foreign specialists would be involved in the mine action center. He also said that eight experts from Tajikistan and 10 from Afghanistan have applied to ANAMA to send representatives to training sessions in Azerbaijan.
"Creating a training center is not an easy job. This requires highly-skilled instructors, logistics and infrastructure. But first and foremost, the confidence of international organizations in Azerbaijan`s expertise in this area has to be justified," Ismailov said.
Cooperation between UNDP and ANAMA began in 1999 with the first phase of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Program. The project aimed to create a national program to survey, map and clear mine-affected areas, and to prepare for handling the mine/UXO problem in the Armenian-occupied territories after their return to Azerbaijani control. In 2005, a document was signed to continue implementing the project.
Ismailov said that, since its establishment in 1998, the agency has cleared territory encompassing over 100 square kilometers and destroyed 398,113 mines and UXOs. ANAMA is carrying out mine clearance operations in the Terter, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Goranboy, Khojavand and Aghstafa districts. As of the end of 2008, landmine impact surveys indicated that mine-contaminated areas covered 268 sq. km. ANAMA predicts clearing some 30 sq. km. of mine-contaminated land in 2009 and will continue to increase this figure in upcoming years by employing the innovative Land Release method to accomplish this large clearance task.
ANAMA experts estimate that about 550 sq. km. of occupied lands are contaminated with mines. 50,000 to 100,000 mines remain in those areas.
According to data obtained by the agency from various sources since September 2001, 57 people have been killed and 133 others injured in Azerbaijan as a result of 97 mine explosions.
The UNDP resident representative said that, although no war is ongoing in the country, people continue to be affected by mines.
Further, Pouezat emphasized that 70 countries, including Azerbaijan, currently face a mine problem. The UNDP has set up mine action centers in 28 of these countries. He noted that UNDP looks at the landmine problem from a development perspective, as well. Thus, the organization`s overall goal is to eliminate the impact of mines/UXOs on the economy, health and environment of the population in affected areas.
"Mine action is not about mine/UXO clearances per se, it is about allowing people to live in an environment that is safe and which brings about an economic and social well-being."
Pouezat welcomed the Azerbaijani government`s paying close attention to mine clearance activities. He stressed that 70 percent of these efforts by ANAMA are financed by the government. At the same time, aid groups and donor countries are providing financial and technical assistance to the agency. Along with UNDP, these include the United States, Britain, Italy, Japan and Norway.
ANAMA`s resources include more than 500 staff, two regional offices (Fizuli and Goygol), three sub-regional offices, three de-mining and technical survey teams with more than 139 de-miners, a 19-man Emergency Response Team, a 78-man UXO Team, 6 mechanical de-mining machines and 32 mine-detection dogs.
The objective of the new phase of the project, entitled "Further Strengthening and Expansion of Mine Action Capacity in Azerbaijan" is to provide ANAMA with an additional three years (2009-2011) of technical, advisory, networking and promotional support. Specifically, UNDP will help ANAMA sustain and expand its ability to effectively clear mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), mine-risk education, mine-victim assistance, international networking and support to other mine-affected countries.
The third phase of the project is valued at $6.6 million, with $640,000 of the amount to be provided by UNDP, while the rest will come from the Azerbaijani government.
The Director of ANAMA, Nazim Ismailov, and the UNDP Resident Representative, Bruno Pouezat, signed the project document at a ceremony hosted by ANAMA.
The project will also help ANAMA evolve into an International Center for Mine Action. On numerous occasions in the past, ANAMA has already provided training assistance to neighboring countries. ANAMA is now determined to formalize this training by establishing a fully-funded International Mine Action Resource & Training Centre, to complement other similar Centers (Nairobi, Cranfield, etc.) for teaching skills and knowledge and in sharing information among the international mine action community.
The ANAMA director pointed out that foreign specialists would be involved in the mine action center. He also said that eight experts from Tajikistan and 10 from Afghanistan have applied to ANAMA to send representatives to training sessions in Azerbaijan.
"Creating a training center is not an easy job. This requires highly-skilled instructors, logistics and infrastructure. But first and foremost, the confidence of international organizations in Azerbaijan`s expertise in this area has to be justified," Ismailov said.
Cooperation between UNDP and ANAMA began in 1999 with the first phase of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Program. The project aimed to create a national program to survey, map and clear mine-affected areas, and to prepare for handling the mine/UXO problem in the Armenian-occupied territories after their return to Azerbaijani control. In 2005, a document was signed to continue implementing the project.
Ismailov said that, since its establishment in 1998, the agency has cleared territory encompassing over 100 square kilometers and destroyed 398,113 mines and UXOs. ANAMA is carrying out mine clearance operations in the Terter, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Goranboy, Khojavand and Aghstafa districts. As of the end of 2008, landmine impact surveys indicated that mine-contaminated areas covered 268 sq. km. ANAMA predicts clearing some 30 sq. km. of mine-contaminated land in 2009 and will continue to increase this figure in upcoming years by employing the innovative Land Release method to accomplish this large clearance task.
ANAMA experts estimate that about 550 sq. km. of occupied lands are contaminated with mines. 50,000 to 100,000 mines remain in those areas.
According to data obtained by the agency from various sources since September 2001, 57 people have been killed and 133 others injured in Azerbaijan as a result of 97 mine explosions.
The UNDP resident representative said that, although no war is ongoing in the country, people continue to be affected by mines.
Further, Pouezat emphasized that 70 countries, including Azerbaijan, currently face a mine problem. The UNDP has set up mine action centers in 28 of these countries. He noted that UNDP looks at the landmine problem from a development perspective, as well. Thus, the organization`s overall goal is to eliminate the impact of mines/UXOs on the economy, health and environment of the population in affected areas.
"Mine action is not about mine/UXO clearances per se, it is about allowing people to live in an environment that is safe and which brings about an economic and social well-being."
Pouezat welcomed the Azerbaijani government`s paying close attention to mine clearance activities. He stressed that 70 percent of these efforts by ANAMA are financed by the government. At the same time, aid groups and donor countries are providing financial and technical assistance to the agency. Along with UNDP, these include the United States, Britain, Italy, Japan and Norway.
ANAMA`s resources include more than 500 staff, two regional offices (Fizuli and Goygol), three sub-regional offices, three de-mining and technical survey teams with more than 139 de-miners, a 19-man Emergency Response Team, a 78-man UXO Team, 6 mechanical de-mining machines and 32 mine-detection dogs.
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