Azerbaijan
Mine Detection Dog Partnership Program
The 1988 to 1994 conflict with Armenia and the Soviet Union’s collapse left much of Azerbaijan littered with landmines. Even though the precise extent of contaminated land remains unknown, it is estimated that there are more than 181,870 acres (or 736 km2 ) of suspected hazardous areas throughout Azerbaijan, affecting 514,000 people. Some of the most highly contaminated regions are Fizuli and Aghstafa in southern and northwestern Azerbaijan. While the number of landmine accidents continued to decrease in 2015, mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) continue to pose a daily threat to local communities.
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The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) is responsible for overseeing all aspects of mine action activities in the country. Since 2005, MLI has donated 81 mine detection dogs (MDDs) to ANAMA. Together with their handlers, the MDDs donated by MLI to ANAMA have helped to search more than 53 million square meters of contaminated land since 2005, saving countless lives!
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In 2021, MLI and ANAMA launched a multi-year partnership effort to provide 30 MDDs over two years to expand ANAMA’s demining capabilities. Since August '21, we provided these 30 lifesaving canines and expanded the K9 capacity with the donation of 10 more hero dogs from a private donor in 2022 and 2023. The 41 dogs donated between 2021 and 2023 have already This massive endeavor has only been made possible by MLI's generous donors. Please consider supporting our ongoing efforts to support ANAMA's MDD capacity to assist in their clearance efforts.
CHAMPS
Through MLI’s Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS), five MDDs in Azerbaijan were sponsored by American schoolchildren. CHAMPS involves American youth in meaningful service-learning projects to sponsor MDDs and help landmine survivors around the world.
Survivors' Assistance
In the spring of 2008, MLI launched a survivors’ assistance program in Ganja City, in western Azerbaijan. This project helped to expand a vocational training workshop that trains and employs landmine survivors and/or their family members. MLI enabled the workshop to employ additional trainees, purchase needed equipment, and produce a business plan and advertising strategy. Vocational training courses in sewing, embroidery, and carpet weaving helped dozens of survivors to reintegrate into society and earn an income for themselves and their families.
