Key developments since May 2005: In 2005, HALO demined more than 7.9 square kilometers of mined area by clearance and survey, and a further 13 square kilometers of land by battle area clearance. HALO also provided mine risk education to about 7,700 people. There were significantly fewer casualties reported than in 2004 when casualty rates peaked.
Nagorno-Karabakh voted in 1988 to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia, which resulted in armed conflict from 1988-1994. The region declared independence as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) on 2 September 1991. Since the end of conflict in 1994, it has presented itself as an autonomous republic linked to Armenia, but it has not been recognized by the UN.
Nagorno-Karabakh political and military leaders have stated their support for an eventual ban on antipersonnel landmines, but have indicated that Nagorno-Karabakh would not join the Mine Ban Treaty now even if eligible to do so.[1] In February 2006, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told Landmine Monitor that Nagorno-Karabakh would not join the agreement until the conflict with Azerbaijan was resolved and all states in the region supported a ban on antipersonnel mines.[2]
Nagorno-Karabakh has stated that it has never produced or exported mines, and has not purchased new mines since 1995. Its antipersonnel mine stockpile consists of mines left over from the former Soviet Union (PMN-2, POMZ-3 and OZM-72 mines).[3]
There were no reports of new mine use in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2005 or the first half of 2006.
Nagorno-Karabakh is affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). According to HALO Trust, during the war that began in the late 1980s between Armenia and Azerbaijan, defensive minefields were laid by both Azeri and pro-Karabakhi forces. Frequent movement of the frontlines resulted in minefields and significant quantities of unexploded ordnance (UXO) being scattered across areas which had been used primarily for agriculture. Thus, “in many areas access to prime land is denied and the steady stream of casualties indicates the requirement for widespread mine clearance ahead of cultivation. Aid organizations in the region have had to restrict their operations due to fears of landmines on or just beside roads and the presence of UXO in and around many villages.”[4]
HALO aimed to complete a general survey of Nagorno-Karabakh by the end of June 2006. This means that all minefields where any information exists will have been surveyed. HALO, to date, has cleared 290 minefields and has a further 168 surveyed tasks remaining to clear. It expected that further tasks requiring clearance would emerge.[5]
The number of items of UXO and abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO) that HALO has cleared has peaked and is expected to continue falling. HALO believes it has cleared the majority of ERW in or close to villages and towns.[6]ALO
National Mine Action Authority: The Working Group on Mine Problems, established by the Nagorno-Karabakh government in 1993, was renamed the Mine Action Coordination Committee (MACC). The committee has no formal membership, but most of the relevant actors and ministries are said to attend meetings.[7] No meetings have taken place since mid-2005. Although, the MACC’s primary role remains coordination and information sharing, on a day-to-day basis this role is more usually fulfilled by the mine action center, as the focal point and first point of contact.[8]
Mine Action Center: HALO set up a mine action center in 2000.[9] Its role is said to be information collation and dissemination to all those interested in mine activities. Regular briefings and information sharing take place, involving most NGOs and other organizations operating in the region. All HALO survey and clearance data is available from this center. The mine action center (MAC) is staffed by HALO personnel, who work closely with other NGOs, the de facto government ministries (mainly agriculture and development), national organizations, and farmers and landowners.[10]
HALO produces its own workplan each year from the input of various agencies, regional administrations and government ministries. HALO planned to produce a three-year workplan in 2006. Internal evaluations are carried out by HALO’s Caucasus and Balkans desk officer three times a year. Specialist HALO staff also visited on assessment missions during 2005. An external evaluation is conducted by donor representatives approximately three times a year.[11]
HALO uses Microsoft Access software and GIS mapping to record its clearance activities, rather than the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA).[12]
HALO uses standing operating procedures specific to Nagorno-Karabakh, which have been adapted from those used by HALO elsewhere. Several amendments were made in 2005 to accommodate specific clearance requirements, such as clearance of plastic antivehicle mines, use of ground compensating detectors and sub-surface clearance of cluster submunitions.[13]
HALO is the primary clearance capacity in Nagorno-Karabakh. It uses machines for ground preparation and area reduction but does not use mine detection dogs in its demining operations.[14]
In early 2005, HALO employed over 200 local staff, the majority as deminers. Due to higher mine casualty rates in 2004, HALO had aimed to train and deploy more manual deminers during 2005; it was hoped that this would allow clearance efforts to match expanding agricultural activities.[15] No additional funding was available for expansion of the program, but HALO reports that careful planning and deployment allowed its existing staff to clear more land, meeting agricultural demands and reducing the number of mine incidents. [16]
In 2006, HALO continued to seek more funding to expand the program, to ensure that mine casualties continue to fall.[17]
The Department of Emergency Situations and the Army conduct occasional small-scale clearance, but do not always record the work performed. Most of the planned mine clearance and responses to call-outs are carried out by HALO.[18]
The priority for 2006 was to complete the general survey and continue this in areas where no minefield information is available. Pro-Karabakhi forces’ minefield mapping, albeit of varying reliability, has been made available to HALO; the locations of previous mine incidents have been cleared. As of yet, unidentified minefields laid by Azeri forces may remain.[19]
Technical survey teams in 2005-2006 concentrated on delineation of minefields and preparation of tasks prior to manual and/or mechanical demining.[20]
HALO reported that it marks all suspected areas found during surveys with “Danger Mines!” signs. A total of 50 such areas were identified and marked during 2005. HALO does not fence suspected areas.[21]
In 2005, HALO demined more than 7.9 square kilometers of mined areas through clearance and survey, and carried out battle area clearance of over 13 square kilometers of UXO-affected land, destroying 984 antipersonnel mines, 379 antivehicle mines, 2,143 items of UXO, 2,564 items of stray ammunition and 5,346 items of small arms ammunition. This included 5,590,753 square meters of mine clearance, of which 5,522,642 square meters were cleared manually and 68,111 square meters were cleared mechanically.[22]
In 2006, from January to 29 May, HALO manually and mechanically cleared 2,302,831 square meters of land, discredited or canceled 1,515,000 square meters by survey, and cleared 5,337,893 square meters with battle area clearance teams. In total, 273 antipersonnel mines, 62 antivehicle mines and 1,607 ERW were destroyed.[23]
From 2000 to May 2006, HALO demined more than 14 square kilometers of land, destroying 4,099 antipersonnel mines, 1,758 antivehicle mines and 35,788 ERW.[24]
Clearance assets were deployed throughout Nagorno-Karabakh, with more emphasis given to the regions where the largest number of civilian casualties was recorded in 2004 and more agricultural areas were blocked by mines: Lachin, Hadrout and Martuni regions. With the majority of mines and ERW close to villages and towns having been cleared in previous years, HALO concentrates operations on less dense areas of contamination further from habitation.[25]
In 2006, HALO trialed the use of antitank mine rollers in Nagorno-Karabakh. The aim was to have an asset that could verify that areas of land do not contain antivehicle mines, where local communities fear that they are present. HALO surveys do not assess whether there is an antivehicle mine threat. The rollers would therefore be deployed as a confidence-building measure. Further trials were planned.[26]
Internal quality assurance and quality control is carried out in accordance with HALO’s global standing operating procedures. There are no external quality assurance and quality control bodies in Nagorno-Karabakh. Normally, each meter of ground is checked four times, initially by the deminer then by the section commander, field officer, operations officer and programme manager.[27]
There were no reports of any informal (“village”) demining in 2005 or the first half of 2006.[28]
There were no demining casualties in 2005 and in January-May 2006.[29] All deminers working for HALO in Nagorno-Karabakh are insured.[30]
In 2005, HALO was the sole provider of mine risk education (MRE) in Nagorno-Karabakh. The program includes community liaison with villages near clearance sites, giving information on the work of clearance teams and handover information. The MRE team also conducts school and adult programs; MRE for adults usually involves informal discussions with small groups.[31] In 2005, MRE staff visited around 150 villages, reaching 4,688 children. HALO’s MRE team usually shows a 10-minute video explaining what to do in case you encounter a mine or UXO and who to report to, followed by a discussion and some games. Schools are supplied with copybooks, posters and brochures on mines. The MRE program for adults reached over 3,000 people, targeting shepherds, farmers and tractor drivers, especially in border areas and near former battle areas. During harvesting and other periods of agricultural activity, the PACE private television company broadcasts MRE spots prepared by HALO.[32]
Shoghakat television company produced a film, Continuing War, based on the photographs of over 50 child mine/UXO survivors by the Armenian photojournalist German Avagyan. His goal is to publish a book, showing on one side the subjects with their stories and on the other side the types of mines and UXO with descriptions. A similar book was reportedly published in Azerbaijan.[33]
In 2005, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ended its Safe Play Areas for Children program, completing its MRE activities in Nagorno-Karabakh. By the end of 2005, ICRC had provided safe play-areas for children in 27 villages.[34]
HALO’s budget for 2005 was approximately US$1,330,000. HALO reported receiving $797,061 from the Netherlands for demining, survey and MRE teams, $450,000 from USAID for demining and survey, $53,321 from the UK’s Cooperative Bank for demining and $29,800 from the Cafesjian Family Foundation for demining.[35] The Netherlands reported providing €667,638 ($831,143) to HALO for mine clearance and MRE in Nagorno-Karabakh.[36]
According to USAID, its funding of demining in Nagorno-Karabakh would continue in US fiscal year 2006.[37] USAID reported that some 9 million square meters of land in Nagorno-Karabakh was cleared with US funding in fiscal year 2004 (1 October 2004-30 September 2005).[38]
In 2005, the Nagorno-Karabakh Department for Emergency Situations reported 18 new landmine/ERW casualties in 10 incidents, including three people killed (one child) and 15 injured (five children).[39] This represents a significant decrease from the 34 new landmine/UXO casualties in 2004 (which was attributed to greater agricultural activity) and is similar to 2003 (21 casualties).[40]
Of the 10 incidents in 2005, one involved an antipersonnel mine, three involved antivehicle mines, four involved UXO, and two items were unknown.[41]
Casualties continued to be reported in 2006 with two incidents as of April: one child killed by a mine, and two others injured by UXO. On 12 March 2006, two boys were injured after one of them found an unidentified explosive item and put it in his pocket. On 19 March, a boy was killed when he tampered with a mine.[42]
The Working Group on Mine Problems collects information regarding landmine/UXO casualties and assistance to survivors. After comparison with information from other sources, such as local and regional administrative bodies and the Ministry of the Interior, the adjusted information is shared with HALO and the Department of Emergency Situations; however, the Ministry of Defense does not provide information on military casualties.[43] The Ministry of Health and ICRC have developed a comprehensive health information system to collect and analyze health data, including the development of standardized forms for data collection.
Although the total number of mine/ERW casualties in Nagorno-Karabakh is not known, in nearly every village of Nagorno-Karabakh there are said to be landmine casualties, mainly children between six and 12 years old.[44] From the cease-fire in 1994 to the end of 2005, 360 mine/ERW casualties were reported, including at least 101 people injured since 2000.[45]
The healthcare system in Nagorno-Karabakh has been seriously affected by a lack of resources and skilled staff, and by the general economic situation.[46]
ICRC has supported primary health centers in rural and conflict-affected districts with supplies of medicines and training of health staff. In 2005, ICRC concentrated its support on the distribution of medicine and supplies to 65 healthcare facilities, mainly in rural areas.[47] First-aid training materials were provided and 48 firefighters, emergency health workers, education staff, and volunteers from the general public participated in four first-aid training courses. Specifically to improve care for survivors of mines and ERW, ICRC sponsored the participation of three surgeons from Nagorno-Karabakh in its annual regional war-surgery seminars in Sochi, Russia.[48] All survivors receive free or discounted treatment in the civilian medical institutions of Nagorno-Karabakh,[49] as well as at military hospitals.[50] Although officially most people with disabilities are entitled to free treatment in hospitals and outpatient clinics, in reality they must often pay unofficial hidden costs to medical staff to receive better service.[51]
Two facilities provide prosthetics and rehabilitation to people with disabilities, including survivors: the Prosthetic and Orthopedic Center operated by the Ministry of Social Security, and the Republican Rehabilitation Center operated by the Ministry of Health. The Prosthetic and Orthopedic Center in Stepanakert provides physical rehabilitation, prosthetics, and psychosocial support services, but resources are limited. From 1995 to December 2005, it produced and distributed 1,874 prosthetic devices, 1,075 (57 percent) for mine/ERW survivors, and repaired 877 prostheses. In 2005, the center provided three new prostheses and replaced or repaired 153 prostheses, including 81 repairs for mine/ERW survivors. [52] In 2005, the Republican Rehabilitation Center provided rehabilitation for 119 people; eight were mine survivors, four of whom were injured in 2004 and 2005.[53]
Limited psychosocial support is available but few people have access to the facilities for logistical reasons, and there is a widespread social stigma attached to receiving psychological care.[54]
Numerous veterans groups are active in Nagorno-Karabakh, among them are the Union of War and Labor Veterans, Veterans of Afghan War, Union of Veterans of Artsakh War, and Public Organization on Assistance to Artsakh (Karabakh) War Invalids (VITA). They see their main goals as raising funds and sponsorship for assistance to people with disabilities and their families, as well as organizing specialized treatment outside Nagorno-Karabakh. In 2005, VITA provided financial and legal assistance, as well as sanatorium and spa treatment, for 25 war disabled, six of whom were treated in Saki, Ukraine.[55]
The ICRC noted that there is a need for survivor assistance projects in Nagorno-Karabakh.[56] However, it also stated that the organization had no further plans for mine action after completion of the safe play-areas project; it expressed willingness to cooperate with others in the mine action sector.[57]
Nagorno-Karabakh has laws to protect people with disabilities, including survivors, and provides monthly pensions corresponding to the level of disability. Benefits are regulated by the law, On Social Security of the Disabled in the Republic, which provides for free or discounted medicines, and monthly allowances for electricity, gas, water and transportation costs.[58] All new mine/ERW casualties or their families receive one-time financial compensation.[59] Although pensions were increased in 2005, the increases were reportedly insufficient given the increased cost of living. Employment and economic reintegration of the disabled are hampered by the general economic situation in the country.[60]
[1] In 2002, Minister of Foreign Affairs Naira Melkoumian said Nagorno-Karabakh would be able to join “only after the establishment of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan.” Meetings between the Nagorno-Karabakh Committee of ICBL and Naira Melkoumian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Masis Mailian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1 and 2 February 2002.
[2] Interview with Irina Beglaryan, Head of Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Stepanakert, 3 February 2006.
[3] Remarks by Lt. Col. Marsel Pogosian, Deputy Chief, Field Engineer Service, at a meeting of the Working Group on Mine Problems, 21 November 2000.
[4] HALO, “Nagorno-Karabakh profile,” www.halotrust.org, accessed 7 May 2006.
[5] Email from Matthew Hovell, Caucasus and Balkans Desk Officer, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[6] Ibid.
[7] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 965.
[8] Email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[9] HALO Trust, “Nagorno-Karabakh profile,” www.halotrust.org, accessed 7 May 2006.
[10] Email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 966.
[13] Email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 965-966.
[16] Email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 965.
[19] Email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Ibid; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 966-967.
[22] HALO Trust Nagorno-Karabakh, “Monthly Reporting & Statistics and Consolidated Clearance Total, Dec-05,” in email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 26 May 2006.
[23] Email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[24] “Problem of antipersonnel mines in Nagorno-Karabakh,” WPS Russian Media Monitoring Agency, 12 May 2006; email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[25] Email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[26] Ibid.
[27] Ibid.
[28] Ibid.
[29] UN, “2006 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 181.
[30] Email from Matthew Hovell, HALO, 27 June 2006.
[31] Response to Landmine Monitor Mine Action Questionnaire by HALO, 2 May 2005.
[32] Interview with Valon Kumnova, Program Manager, HALO Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert, 20 March 2006.
[33] Gayane Mkrtchyan, “Cease Fire? Not for the children of Karabakh and borderlands,” ArmeniaNow, (undated).
[34] ICRC, “Special Report-Mine Action 2004,” Geneva, June 2005, p. 32; see Landmine Monitor Report 2005,
p. 967.
[35] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 967; letter from Valon Kumnova, HALO, Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert, 13 June 2005; response to Landmine Monitor Mine Action Questionnaire by HALO, 2 May 2005.
[36] Email from Ellen Schut, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 7 April 2006; email from Brechtje Paardekooper, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 18 April 2006. Average exchange rate for 2005: €1 = US$1.2449. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2006.
[37] USAID, “Eurasia Regional, Strengthened Humanitarian Responses to Crises, FY 2005, 123-0310,” www.usaid.gov, accessed 30 June 2006.
[38] Ibid.
[39] Report by State Commission on the Problem of Mines, Nagorno-Karabakh, 2005; emails from Dr. Ashot Adamyan, Head of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ministry of Health, 22 March and 4 May 2006.
[40] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 967-968.
[41] Interview with Mikael Gasparyan, Chairperson, State Commission on the Problem of Mines, Stepanakert, 4 May 2006.
[42] Emails from Dr. Ashot Adamyan, Ministry of Health, 22 March and 4 May 2006.
[43] Interview with Mikael Gasparyan, Working Group on Mine Problems, 14 February 2006.
[44] Gayane Mkrtchyan, “Cease Fire? Not for the children of Karabakh and borderlands,” ArmeniaNow, (undated).
[45] See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 1223; Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 968.
[46] See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 968.
[47] Interview with Norayr Amirjanyan, Administrator, ICRC, Stepanakert, 5 May 2006; ICRC, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, June 2006, p. 223.
[48] ICRC, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, June 2006, p. 223.
[49] “Social Security of the Disabled,” AzatArtsakh (daily newspaper), 8 December 2004; see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp. 976-977.
[50] Interview with Col. Samvel Gevorkian, Head, Military Medical Service, Stepanakert, 15 March 2006.
[51] Email from Ashot Astabatsyan, Health Team, ICRC, 13 March 2006.
[52] Interview with Levon Babayan, Director, Prosthetic and Orthopedic Center, Stepanakert, 10 February 2006.
[53] Interview with Vardan Tadevossian, Director, Republican Rehabilitation Center, Stepanakert, 17 March 2006.
[54] Interview with Emma Melkoumian, Head, Center for Psychological Rehabilitation, Stepanakert, 17 March 2006.
[55] Interview with Arevik Petrossyan, Chairperson, VITA, Stepanakert, 17 February 2006.
[56] Email from Ashot Astabatsyan, ICRC, 13 March 2006.
[57] Interview with Djordje Drndarski, Director, ICRC, Stepanakert, 20 March 2006.
[58] “Social Security of the Disabled,” AzatArtsakh, 8 December 2004; see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, pp. 976-977.
[59] Interview with Mikael Gasparyan, State Commission on the Problem of Mines, Stepanakert, 14 February 2006.
[60] Email from Ashot Astabatsyan, ICRC, 13 March 2006; interview with Samvel Israyelian, Head of Department, Ministry of Social Security, Stepanakert, 21 March 2006.