Contamination and Impact

All regions of Nagorno-Karabakh have been affected by mines, unexploded submunitions, and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) as a result of the 1988–1994 conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. A feature of the conflict was the extensive use of antivehicle mines, but antipersonnel mines were also used.[1]

Mines

As of September 2013, the remaining mined area was 1.6km² (down from 50km² in 2000), of which 0.88km² across 34 different areas contained antipersonnel mines and 0.73km² across 15 different areas contained antivehicle mines. Around 70% of the remaining contamination—consisting mainly of antivehicle mines—is in areas occupied by the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Forces outside Soviet-era boundaries.[2] HALO Trust has operated in these areas since the beginning of its presence in Nagorno-Karabakh but, in recent years, HALO’s activities have been reduced due to difficulties in attracting funds to operate in these areas.[3]

New contamination was added in 2013. In July, Nagorno-Karabakh’s military chief, General Movses Hakobian, was reported as stating that “his forces have placed more anti-personnel landmines this year along the Armenian-Azerbaijani ‘line of contact’ east and north of the disputed territory.”[4] General Hakobian said the use was aimed at preventing sabotage attacks by Azerbaijani troops.[5]

On 4 September 2013, in response to a letter by the ICBL to authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh seeking clarification, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno-Karabakh did not deny that mines had been used. He stated that “due to the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan…today we are not in a position to refrain from using AP [antipersonnel] mines for defensive purposes along the line of contact.” He noted further that “these mines are neither aimed at the civilian population nor at the extermination of the adversary but for limiting its advances and ceasing any possible military aggression against us.”[6]

Cluster munitions contamination

Nagorno-Karabakh has significant cluster munition contamination, particularly in the Askeran, Martuni, and Martakert regions, where more than 75% of the remaining cluster munition remnants are located. Large quantities of cluster munitions were dropped from the air during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1988–1994. As of September 2013, HALO reported a total of 79 known cluster munition strikes covering an area of 39.5km².[7]

Since 1995, HALO has recorded 268 mine/ERW incidents resulting in some 330 casualties, including 73 killed.[8]

Mine Action Program

A mine action coordination committee is primarily responsible for liaising between the de facto government and HALO.[9] In 2000, HALO established the Nagorno-Karabakh Mine Action Center which consolidates all mine action-related information and responds to requests from the de facto government ministries, other NGOs, and local communities.[10]

In 1995 and 1996, HALO trained local Karabakhi personnel in demining and left national staff to manage operations. In 1999, HALO returned to find the program had very significant failures, including many accidents and a breakdown of management.[11] Since 2000, HALO has been the sole organization conducting demining in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Strategic planning

A 2013 demining needs assessment by the United States (US) Agency for International Development (USAID) concluded that HALO needed to seek and secure additional support and funding to continue its demining operations in Nagorno-Karabakh.[12] In October 2013, HALO obtained a grant of US$5 million from USAID for the next two and a half years.[13]

According to HALO, full clearance of minefields in Soviet-era Nagorno-Karabakh can be achieved within the next three years if sufficient funding is available.[14] It said that clearance of all Nagorno-Karabakh-controlled territory (outside Soviet-era boundaries) would take much longer unless significant additional funding is provided.[15]

In 2014, HALO aimed to clear some 0.35km² of land contaminated with antipersonnel mines, 0.3km² contaminated with antivehicle mines, and 17km² of battle area.[16]

Land Release

Mine clearance in 2013

In 2013, HALO cleared 0.31km² of mined land in 11 contaminated areas containing both antipersonnel and antivehicle mines. A further 37,000m² of mined area was released by mechanical demining.[17] HALO also surveyed two areas totaling 47,000m² that were contaminated with antipersonnel mines and seven areas contaminated with antivehicle mines, totaling 0.81km² of land.

In 2008–2010, HALO cleared an average of between 5km² and 6km² of mined areas annually and averaged over 30km² of battle area clearance. In 2011, however, the United Kingdom (UK) interrupted its funding of the program and HALO lost 37% of its capacity; consequently, clearance rates have declined year on year.[18] In 2012, HALO cleared 1km² of contaminated land.[19]

Battle area clearance in 2013

In 2013, 4.65km² of cluster munition contaminated area was cleared through surface battle area clearance (BAC) and 37 unexploded submunitions were destroyed. HALO also conducted survey of five BAC sites in 2013 totaling 2.5km² of area.[20]

Five-year summary of land release 2009–2013

Note: UXO = Unexploded ordinance

Support for Mine Action

In 2013, HALO received US$2 million of international funding for its activities in Nagorno-Karabakh: US$1.85 million from USAID; US$131,421 from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO); and US$15,000 of private donation.[21]

For 2014, HALO applied for funding from the FCO for an additional clearance team from April.[22]

Five-year summary of international funding 2009–2013 (US$ million)