Baku: Approximately 500 million US dollars were allocated for mine action activities in 2021, and 96% of this amount was financed by the Azerbaijani government, ANAMA chairman Vugar Suleymanov said at the event titled 'Post-Conflict Urban Reconstruction: The Crucial Role of Humanitarian Demining Activities' held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Suleymanov emphasized Azerbaijan's commitment to ensuring safe restoration, reconstruction, and development. He explained that mine clearance activities are vital not only for saving lives but also for laying the groundwork for rebuilding homes, restoring infrastructure, revitalizing agriculture, developing transport networks, and supporting economic activity. The ultimate goal is to enable people to safely return to their native lands and rebuild their lives.

The chairman highlighted that Azerbaijan has been actively integrating humanitarian demining activities with the country's broader restoration efforts in recent years. The state program developed for this purpose directly connects mine clearance with urban planning, reconstruction, and development projects. Since 2020, approximately 15 billion US dollars have been allocated by the Azerbaijani government for construction and restoration work in the civilian sector. Suleymanov stressed that construction and mobility are impossible without clearing territories of mines. Ensuring security is essential for the return of people, and accessible, safe land is crucial for sustainable development.

Suleymanov concluded by stating that humanitarian demining activities are transformative, turning contaminated territories into opportunities for reconstruction, return, and sustainable development. He noted that the challenge of mine contamination is not unique to Azerbaijan, as many countries worldwide face similar issues, with mine contamination continuing to delay restoration efforts while posing risks to civilians.