Baku: Unmanned aerial vehicles are playing a pivotal role in humanitarian demining activities across Azerbaijan, enabling more accurate survey and study of affected areas. This was stated by Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA), during a panel discussion at Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026), APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, during demining operations, a variety of advanced technologies are utilized. These include detectors and magnetic locators for mine detection, deep-search equipment, devices such as DGPS for precise geographical coordination, specialized mechanical demining equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicles for comprehensive area surveys. Suleymanov emphasized that the primary aim of employing these technologies is to ensure maximum safety and enhance the efficiency of the work process. The integration of safety measures, risk identification, and timely information dissemination represents a unified approach across various fields.
Suleymanov also addressed the challenges posed by climate change in mine detection. He highlighted that the evolving nature of global threats, exacerbated by climate change, complicates the demining process. Natural disasters such as floods, mudflows, landslides, droughts, and forest fires are intensifying, further complicating the threat posed by leftover mines and explosive ordnance. These hazards create significant obstacles to public safety, infrastructure projects, agriculture, urban development, and the resettlement of displaced populations.
He further noted that Azerbaijan ranks among the most mine-contaminated countries worldwide. The occupation of territories, particularly in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, resulted in over 1 million mines contaminating these pristine ecosystems. The estimated contamination includes at least 480 tonnes of plastic material with harmful substances. Suleymanov stressed that the mine threat’s scale is not solely defined by the number of explosive devices but also by the broader environmental and societal impacts.