'Ensuring safety at every inch': demining effort in Armenia
Demining in Armenia: humanitarian clearance
Mines and unexploded ordnance are an inevitable consequence of armed conflict. More than 60 countries worldwide, including Armenia, must clear their territories of these hazards.
In total, over 43 million square meters in Armenia require demining. This situation stems from a conflict that lasted around 35 years. The search for and neutralization of mines and other explosive devices takes place more actively in the border regions of Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, and Tavush.
However, this does not mean that other regions are fully cleared or safe. Currently, Armenia has 96 confirmed hazardous areas and 19 potentially dangerous sites that require clearance.
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‘In our work, you cannot think about completing the task quickly‘
Staff at the Centre for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise say they know every part of Armenia. They insist that “each of us is familiar with the regions of Armenia down to the millimeter, and that is not an exaggeration.” They explain that humanitarian demining is carried out with millimeter-level precision.
When Rustam Mirzoev enrolled in medical school, he already knew he wanted to save lives. Since then, he decided that it was his mission. According to him, four years ago, this decision led him to the Centre for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise:
“I started demining during my compulsory military service. Later, I took part in a humanitarian mission in Syria. So, before joining the centre, I had already gained some experience. It may sound surprising, but military demining and humanitarian demining are completely different. In the military, you complete a combat task. At the centre, the work focuses primarily on ensuring people’s safety, including your own. In short, I fully understood where I was joining and what I would be doing every day.”
He says that from the outside, demining may seem like one of the most dangerous jobs. But he doesn’t see it that way himself.
According to him, it isn’t because he’s used to danger. During demining, attention focuses entirely on completing the task — “clearing the assigned area.” He says this focus gives him strength and confidence in his work:
“I’ve never counted how many metres I’ve cleared. But I can say that I completed every task assigned to me. In our work, you cannot think about how much ground you’ve covered or rush to finish. First and foremost, we focus on making the area as safe as possible for those who will come here after us. Sometimes the contamination is so dense that we can’t even use machinery, not even a metal detector. We have to dig by hand. In such cases, by the end of the day, we might not have cleared even half a metre. So, the effectiveness of our work is measured not in metres, but in the final result.
Fear disappears with the first explosion. I experienced one myself at 18, while in the army. Also, if you’re afraid, you won’t take a single step on a minefield. One of the key principles of humanitarian demining is that we are not suicide bombers. The most important thing in this work is to preserve life and health — our own and that of the people around us.”
Humanitarian demining involves locating and clearing mined areas, as well as informing the public about sites that may contain unexploded ordnance. Its goal is to ensure civilian safety, allowing people to live, move, and use their land securely.
Before each assignment, every deminer at the Humanitarian Demining and Expertise Center, regardless of experience, skills, or knowledge, undergoes a training session. The deminers say that following all safety rules keeps risks minimal. They proudly note that the center has never recorded a fatality. They attribute this record to professionalism and continuous training.
Everyone must know the safety rules
Experts say that following certain safety rules can minimize the risk of landmine explosions. They stress that everyone should be aware of the following:
- Danger zones are usually marked by specialists with yellow tape. A red sign featuring a white skull is also placed in hazardous areas. These markers indicate the presence of mines. If you see them, stop and do not enter the area. Try to warn others nearby. Do not remove or move the signs, as doing so puts yourself and others at risk.
- The absence of markers does not guarantee safety. Watch for natural signs such as trees and shrubs with unusually heavy growth, undisturbed grass, or untreated land. Crater marks from explosions, remains of animals, damaged structures, and abandoned or destroyed equipment also signal danger.
- If you find yourself in a dangerous area, stop immediately. Do not panic and observe your surroundings. If you are not alone, loudly warn others to stay in place.
- If you see unfamiliar objects, first try to identify them from a safe distance. Do not touch, throw stones at, or move them. Unfamiliar objects can explode at any moment. If you suspect unexploded ordnance, focus and recall the path you took to get there. If you remember your route clearly, return the same way. If unsure, stay put.
- If you spot a mine, do not move. Even small steps can be fatal.
- Call 911, 0-8000-9000, or 1-02 without making sudden movements. These calls are free. Explain your location and how you got there. This information will help deminers reach you faster.
- If you have no phone, wait until help arrives. Always inform someone in advance about where you are going and how long you plan to stay.
- Do not let anyone approach you. Only deminers in proper uniforms and equipment can assist. Wait for them.
Statistical data
Each year, about 10,000 people die from mines worldwide. Another 20,000 suffer injuries of varying severity, and 30% of them are children.
Estimates suggest that if current rates of humanitarian demining continue and no new mines are laid, it would take around 1,100 years to clear all land completely.
Since 1991, more than 805 people in Armenia have been affected by mines. Over the past two years, one person has been injured.
The centre informs up to 10,000 people annually about mine risks and safety rules. Staff stress that this information has proven effective.
Last year alone, around 92,000 square metres of hazardous land were cleared of explosives in border settlements of the Tavush and Vayots Dzor regions.
In some countries, humanitarian demining uses robots, dogs, or even rats. In Armenia, however, the work is carried out entirely by humans due to the terrain and to ensure effectiveness.
Each team sent on a mission consists of a leader and between three and seven searchers. The number varies depending on the scope of the work.
All educational and informational materials on humanitarian demining remain valid for no more than a year. Weapons and explosives change rapidly, so the information must be updated. Before the 2020 war, for instance, Armenia did not include cluster munitions in public awareness campaigns, as they had not been used before. After the war, information on these munitions was added to the list of items requiring study.
Humanitarian demining begins with a non-technical survey, based on reports of potential danger from local residents and municipal authorities. On-site work then starts, including mapping and technical surveys. The area is marked as either potentially or confirmed hazardous and flagged with yellow tape and red signs. Only after this stage do the demining operations begin.
This year, women joined demining work for the first time. Previously, they had not participated in clearing mines.
Staff at the Humanitarian Demining and Expertise Center say they work with a strong sense of mission, believing that “others cannot clear the mined areas.”
They explain that once an area is cleared and safe, it receives a green marker. Center employees say they aim for a future where the map of Armenia shows only green markers. Achieving this, however, will take decades.
Demining in Armenia: humanitarian clearance
