Nagorno-Karabakh

2008 Key Data

Ten-Year Summary

Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh have not taken any unilateral steps to ban antipersonnel mines. Leaders have stated their support for an eventual ban.

With the help of HALO Trust, Nagorno-Karabakh has made steady progress in clearing mine and battle areas, including cluster munition remnants. Since HALO restarted its clearance program in 2000 and through the end of 2008, more than 29km² of mined areas and 133km² of battle areas were cleared.

From 1999 to 2008, HALO recorded 214 mine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties (41 killed and 173 injured) in Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 1995, at least 329 mine/ERW casualties have been recorded. Risk education was conducted from 1999 to 2008, focused particularly on children and adults engaged in agricultural activities. Risk education decreased in 2008. Persons with disabilities, including mine/ERW survivors, can receive one-time financial compensation, free medical treatment, and pensions, but assistance remains insufficient.

Mine Ban Policy

Nagorno-Karabakh is not recognized by any UN member state. Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Parliament of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Province voted in 1988 to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) and join the Armenian SSR, which resulted in armed conflict from 1988 to 1994. The region declared independence as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in 1991.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s political and military leaders have previously stated their support for an eventual ban on antipersonnel mines, but have indicated that, even if eligible to do so, Nagorno-Karabakh would not join the Mine Ban Treaty until the conflict with Azerbaijan is resolved and all states in the region support a ban on antipersonnel mines.^[1]

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 Soviet Union (OZM-72, PMN-2, and POMZ-3 mines).

Scope of the Problem

Contamination

Nagorno-Karabakh is affected by landmines and ERW, mainly UXO, from the 1988–1994 conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Contamination includes mined areas covering some 13.7km² (around one-fifth containing antipersonnel mines) and cluster munition remnants over up to 85km², more than double the previous estimate of up to 40km². Contamination from unexploded submunitions is found especially in the Askeran and Martakert regions.^[2]

Casualties

HALO reported 14 mine/ERW casualties (two killed and 12 injured) in 10 incidents in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2008.^[3] Most casualties were adults (11), and three were children. Only partial information was provided on gender; there were at least four men. Antivehicle mines caused four incidents, antipersonnel mines three, and ERW three. Information on activities and location was not provided. The 2008 casualty rate is an increase compared to 2007 (five, all injured), but similar to 2006 (14 casualties, two killed and 12 injured) and 2005 (15 casualties, three killed and 12 injured). The 2008 casualty rate is still lower than in 2004 (44 casualties, 11 killed and 33 injured).

Casualties continued to be reported in 2009, with seven mine casualties (one killed and six injured) in three incidents to 8 July 2009.^[4] All casualties were adults and were caused by antivehicle mines.

The total number of mine/ERW casualties in Nagorno-Karabakh is unknown. HALO has information on 329 mine/ERW casualties (73 killed and 256 injured) in 251 incidents between 1995 and July 2009.^[5] The Ministry of Social Welfare recorded 360 casualties between 1994 and 2005, with at least 101 injured from 2000 to 2005.^[6]

From 1999 to 2008, HALO recorded 214 mine/ERW casualties (41 killed and 173 injured) in 160 incidents.^[7] The majority of casualties were adults (155); there were 59 child casualties. Most incidents were caused by landmines (103)—antivehicle mines caused 56 incidents and antipersonnel mines 47—and ERW caused 57 incidents. Since 2004, a decrease in casualty rates has been reported.

The number of persons with disabilities in Nagorno-Karabakh is unknown. However, out of a population of approximately 140,000 people, 10,207 persons with disabilities receive pensions.^[8]

Risk profile

HALO has reported that the main at-risk groups are children engaging in risk-taking behavior, and adults engaging in agricultural activities. The main threat is posed by ERW.^[9]

Program Management and Coordination

Mine action

A Mine Action Coordination Committee is primarily responsible for liaison between the de facto government and HALO, but meets only when needed.^[10] HALO set up a mine action center in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2000, which is staffed by HALO personnel.

Victim assistance

There is no specific victim assistance (VA) framework and mine/ERW survivors receive the same services as other persons with disabilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Ministry of Social Welfare is responsible for the development and implementation of disability policies. Its tasks included ensuring medical assistance for persons with disabilities and the provision of prosthetic devices, employment, and psychosocial rehabilitation. In April 2008, the Center of Medical and Social Expertise, under the Ministry of Social Welfare, was set up to determine the different categories of disability, rehabilitation needs, and other disability-related issues.^[11]

Data collection and management

Since 1995, HALO has collected casualty data in Nagorno-Karabakh. In 2009, HALO reported that full details on “most casualties” were recorded in its database,^[12] but gaps remained in information provided to Landmine Monitor, including activity at the time of the incidents and locations.^[13] However, it appeared that casualty information has been verified and casualties previously unreported were inserted in the HALO database in 2009.^[14] HALO risk education (RE) teams collect incident details, visit survivors in hospital, and enter the information into the database. The Ministry of Defense does not provide information on military casualties.^[15]

In late 2007, the NGO Geneva Call provided representatives of civil society organizations from the South Caucasus, including Nagorno-Karabakh, with training in conducting socio-economic needs assessment surveys for landmine survivors and other persons with disabilities. In the second half of 2008, Geneva Call, together with local partner organizations, undertook a survey on the socio-economic needs of mine/ERW survivors in conflict areas, including Nagorno-Karabakh. The survey was limited to the areas directly affected by the armed conflict, covering at least 10% of the registered landmine survivors. As of August 2009, the results of this survey had not yet been published.^[16]

Plans

Strategic mine action plans

In July 2009, HALO estimated that, if current funding levels were sustained, between six and seven years’ work remained to clear Nagorno-Karabakh of contamination.^[17] HALO planned to continue to address contamination “based on priority” with about one-quarter of its resources devoted to battle area clearance (BAC) and three-quarters to mine clearance. HALO aims to clear all antivehicle minefields by the end of 2010 and to start its “Declared Minefield Free” process, region by region, in 2011.^[18]

Integration of mine action with reconstruction and development

In 2008, HALO carried out a number of demining tasks to support reconstruction and development. A new gas pipe was installed in Martakert region, providing gas to four villages and Martakert town itself (the third largest town in Nagorno-Karabakh), benefiting some 5,000 people who previously had used bottled gas and wood burning stoves. The route the pipe had to take went through a mined area, which HALO cleared resulting in the destruction of two antivehicle mines and four items of UXO. Also in Martakert region, HALO cleared an area which was to be developed as a tourism/recreation area as it was suspected to have an antivehicle mine threat, and has conducted survey in support of a proposed new water pipe. Finally, HALO conducted survey and clearance in preparation for the construction of a gas pipe in Hadrut region. As of July 2009, construction of the pipe was underway.^[19]

Local ownership

HALO has found the local authorities to be committed to mine action and have cooperated with HALO on all aspects of its work. For example, the Nagorno-Karabakh Rescue Services coordinate with HALO on explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) call-outs and other exchanges of information, and HALO’s RE program is fully supported by the Ministry of Education.^[20]

Demining and Battle Area Clearance

Mined area clearance in 2008

Battle area clearance in 2008

Demining in Nagorno-Karabakh continues to be carried out primarily by HALO, using six teams for manual demining, four for BAC, one for general survey, one for EOD, one for mechanical demining, and one for RE. In 2008, HALO cleared almost 5.79km² of mined areas and—a record for the program—more than 28.84km² of battle areas (see tables below). There were three donor visits to the program in 2008 as well as visits from HALO headquarters staff.^[21] Nagorno-Karabakh Rescue Services (formerly called the Department of Emergency Situations) has continued to conduct limited EOD, responding to 68 call-outs in 2008.

Progress since 2000

Since HALO restarted its clearance program in 2000 and through the end of 2008, more than 29km² of mined areas and 133km² of battle areas were cleared.

Risk Education

In 2008, 12,717 persons, including schoolchildren, tractor drivers and shepherds, received RE in Nagorno-Karabakh.^[22] This is a decrease compared to 2007 (24,055).^[23] An increase in casualties was recorded in 2008, but overall, since RE activities began, mine/ERW incidents have decreased.^[24] RE is still believed to be necessary until clearance activities are completed.^[25]

Demining from 1999–2008

In 2008, HALO, working with the Nagorno-Karabakh Rescue Services and the Ministry of Education, was the only RE provider. A total of 7,489 adults and 5,228 children were reached, covering all regions of Nagorno-Karabakh and 102 schools. Awareness messages were delivered through interactive briefings, role-plays, games and audio-visual presentations. Messages were approved by the Ministry of Education and RE has been officially introduced into the school curriculum. Materials used included coloring books for children and posters and leaflets for both children and adults. HALO also organized RE training for 200 teachers in Stepanakert in March 2009.^[26]

From 1994 to December 2002, RE was provided mainly to children by the ICRC, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Civil Defense. From 2003 to 2005, the ICRC implemented a “Safe Play Areas for Children” program in close cooperation with the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society.^[27] HALO started RE in March 2003 and worked in cooperation with the Nagorno-Karabakh Rescue Services and the Ministry of Education. From 2005 to 2008, 56,751 people were reached according to Landmine Monitor data. RE was coordinated through a Mine Awareness Working group from 1999 to 2002. There is said to be widespread public knowledge of the specific characteristics and risks of submunition contamination in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Victim Assistance

The total number of survivors is estimated to be at least 256.^[28] Nagorno-Karabakh’s healthcare system has been adversely affected by the conflict.^[29] In 2008, some efforts were made to strengthen existing health infrastructure, including allocating funds for the reconstruction of the Republic Hospital in Stepanakert and other medical facilities.^[30] However, the healthcare system still lacks resources, equipment, ambulances, and medicines.^[31] Most patients are sent to Armenia for treatment.^[32]

The Stepanakert Policlinic, which is the only full-care outpatient medical center in Nagorno-Karabakh, received medical supplies and equipment from the Armenia Fund in 2008.^[33] In 2008, two surgeons from the Republic Hospital received training in Poland and Russia.^[34] The Ministry of Health acknowledged, however, that many doctors did not receive any training in the last 10 to 15 years.^[35]

Mine/ERW survivors receive free or discounted treatment at both civilian and military hospitals. Officially, most persons with disabilities are entitled to free medical care and free medicine if they present a disability certificate. In reality they often have to pay unofficial costs to receive services. In 2008, one mine survivor reported he was not able to get a disability certificate from authorities,^[36] while other people (who were reportedly not disabled) were listed among persons with disabilities through bribes and received benefits.^[37] The government stated that the process of granting disability certificates would be reviewed.^[38]

The Prosthetic and Orthopedic Center (operated by the Ministry of Social Welfare) and the Republican Rehabilitation Center (operated by the Ministry of Health), both located in Stepanakert, provide prosthetics, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support services.^[39] The Prosthetic and Orthopedic Center has the capacity to provide home care to 150 patients per year who cannot leave their houses. It plans to open a department specialized in the rehabilitation of children.^[40] Between 1999 and 2008, the center assisted 675 outpatients through 24,859 visits, 380 inpatients through 14,300 visits, and 460 patients with house calls through 6,647 visits.^[41]

Psychological support is available at the Center for Psychological Rehabilitation, in the Republic Children’s Hospital, at the Stepanakert rehabilitation centers, and at regional hospitals in Hadrut, Martakert, and Martuni.^[42] The government announced it will reimburse 2008 private and public university tuition fees for persons having a “first” or “second degree” of disability.^[43] Eight “first degree” persons with disabilities received special cars from the government to improve their mobility and the possibility for them to work as drivers.^[44] It is expected that all “first degree” disabled war veterans will be provided with a special car.^[45] In 2008, the government announced its intention to finance other income-generating activities,^[46] but it is unknown if they were implemented.

In 2008, the ICRC assisted 70 health centers and provided material assistance to vulnerable persons.^[47] Various veterans’ groups are active in assisting persons with disabilities, including mine/ERW survivors.

Nagorno-Karabakh has laws to protect persons with disabilities, and provides monthly pensions corresponding to the level of disability.^[48] All new mine/ERW casualties or their families receive a one-time disbursement of financial compensation. In May 2007, pensions, including those for civilian war disabled and veterans with disabilities, were increased by up to 25%, in accordance with the rising cost of living. In January 2008, monthly benefits for children with disabilities were also increased.^[49]

Support for Mine Action

International cooperation and assistance

In 2008, the Netherlands (US$817,293/€555,000) and the United Kingdom ($681,256/£367,353) reported contributing a total of $1,498,549 (€1,017,621) to HALO for mine action in Nagorno-Karabakh.^[50] Reported mine action funding in 2008 was approximately 11% more than reported in 2007. Funding has fluctuated between roughly $500,000 and $1.5 million per year since 2005.