Thu Sep 12 10:51:00 UTC 2024: ## Hero Dogs Help Azerbaijan Clear Millions of Landmines for “Great Return”
**Azerbaijan faces a monumental task:** clearing over 1.5 million landmines left behind after decades of conflict with Armenia. This daunting challenge threatens the “Great Return,” a plan to resettle 700,000 Azerbaijanis displaced by the Armenian occupation.
**Heroic canine teams are leading the charge.** Specially trained dogs like Oskar sniff out deadly TM-62 anti-tank mines, playing a vital role in securing the land for resettlement.
**The situation is dire:** The Nagorno-Karabakh region, now controlled by Azerbaijan, is considered the most heavily mined area in the world. Even during the relative peace following the 2020 conflict, 350 civilians were killed by unexploded ordnance.
**The return of the IDPs (internally displaced people) is crucial:** Deputy Minister Fuad Huseynov emphasizes the need for complete mine clearance for the safety of the returning population.
**The scale of the task is staggering:** Experts estimate it will take 25 years and $30 billion to clear the land, with much of the work falling on the shoulders of agencies like ANAMA (Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency).
**Hope amidst the destruction:** Despite the enormous challenge, progress is being made. In 2020 alone, over 158,000 hectares were declared mine-free.
**The future remains uncertain:** The land is ravaged by conflict and littered with dangerous traps. Elgun Meherremov, a former IDP now working on mine clearance, reflects on the difficulties faced by the people and the hope for a brighter future.
**The story highlights the human cost of war and the ongoing struggle for peace and reconstruction in the region.** As Azerbaijan embarks on a monumental task of rebuilding and resettlement, the heroic efforts of the mine clearance teams, both human and canine, offer a glimmer of hope for a safe and prosperous future.
First Piper 