Contamination and Impact

Mines

Nagorno-Karabakh is affected by mines as a result of the 1988–1994 conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In 2008, HALO Trust reported that mined areas covered some 13.7km² (with only around one-fifth containing antipersonnel mines).^[1] In 2009, HALO re-assessed the size of surveyed mined areas in the region and reported that the area believed to contain antivehicle mines increased while the area contaminated by antipersonnel mines decreased. As of January 2010, the total suspected mined area had increased from 7km² to 10km², 1.6km² of which contained antipersonnel mines and the remaining 8.4km² contained antivehicle mines.^[2]

Cluster munition remnants

HALO has reported that Nagorno-Karabakh has a significant cluster munition problem, particularly in the Askeran and Martakert regions. Large quantities of air-dropped cluster munitions were used in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict over a six-year period. HALO has already cleared the majority of cluster munition tasks around Stepanakert and Shushi.^[3]

HALO initially conducted emergency surface clearance of cluster munition remnants. By 2008, HALO concluded there was also a significant sub-surface threat and they subsequently began a re-survey of cluster munition strikes. The result of the survey was an increase of area from 85km² to 94km² in need of battle area clearance (BAC) between 2008 and 2009. The process to clear cluster munitions has evolved as the precise nature of the problem is better understood. With clearance of the high-priority areas completed, sub-surface clearance has become the priority. Sub-surface clearance has consistently resulted in clearing more area than originally estimated to be contaminated, and new surveys of previously-unknown cluster munition strikes have added to the total suspected hazardous area.^[4]  

Other explosive remnants of war

There is also a problem with other explosive remnants of war (ERW), mainly UXO, resulting from the 1988–1994 conflict. The Askeran and Martakert regions are said to be more contaminated by ERW than other regions. In Askeran, HALO has identified 73 suspected hazardous areas covering 25.5km² and in Martakert 66 areas covering 36.4km².^[5]

Mine Action Program

HALO has been the backbone of the mine action program in Nagorno-Karabakh for 10 years. A Mine Action Coordination Committee is primarily responsible for liaising between the de facto government and HALO, but meets only when needed. HALO established the Nagorno-Karabakh Mine Action Center in 2000 which consolidates all mine action-related information. The Mine Action Centre serves the de facto government’s ministries, all other NGOs, and local communities.^[6]

Although HALO has made steady progress each year and greatly improved its productivity in BAC with the purchase of new equipment, the organization has reported that donor interest is decreasing. By the end of 2010 HALO expects to have only one major donor for Nagorno-Karabakh. A major challenge is therefore to identify new funding sources to ensure clearance remains at the same pace as previous years.^[7] 

Land Release

Since 2005, HALO has consistently cleared between 5km² and 6km² of mined areas annually. In 2008 and 2009, the amount of battle area cleared increased significantly as HALO put most of its clearance assets into the Askeran and Martakert regions. The purchase of new magnetic locators in 2009 further increased productivity.^[8]

Five-year summary of land release

Survey in 2009

In 2009, HALO’s non-technical surveys covered 1.23km² and technical surveys covered 130,000m².^[9] None of these surveys resulted in the cancellation or release of land directly.

Mine clearance in 2009

In 2009, HALO cleared 5.95km², destroying 657 antipersonnel mines and 176 antivehicle mines.^[10] As of end 2009, mine clearance capacity consisted of 12 teams with a total of 108 deminers.^[11]

Mine clearance in 2009

Clearance of battle areas, including cluster munition contaminated areas, in 2009

In 2009 HALO focused on the surface and sub-surface clearance of cluster munition remnants due to their high impact on local communities, especially in the Askeran and Martakert regions. HALO significantly increased its BAC productivity when it purchased new detectors to increase surface BAC clearance rates. As of the end of 2009, explosive ordnance disposal/BAC capacity consisted of four teams with a total of 44 clearance personnel.^[12]

Battle area clearance in 2009^[13]

*The figures in the table above include clearance of cluster munition contaminated areas, as HALO statistics are not disaggregated between clearance of cluster munition remnants and other UXO.

Community liaison

HALO integrates community liaison into its clearance operations. HALO personnel meet with the residents and local authorities in each community prior to all stages of clearance.  After the completion of clearance, landowners and the local authorities are present for the handover of the cleared minefields. In addition HALO has a mobile Mine Risk Education Team that visits impacted communities on a daily basis.^[14]

Quality management

Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) are integrated into HALO’s clearance operations. The section commanders and field officers spend most of their day conducting QA. The section commander checks each deminer’s lane after every 5m² of clearance. At the end of each working day the field officer checks all lanes. Additionally, regular site visits by supervisors, the programme operations officer, and the programme manager focus on QA and QC, including the checking of lanes.^[15]

Other Risk Reduction Measures

HALO conducts mine/ERW risk education through the Ministry of Education.^[16] In 2009, 25,408 persons, including schoolchildren, tractor drivers, and shepherds, received risk education in Nagorno-Karabakh.^[17]