Armenia
Problem statement
Armenia has been affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), primarily as a result of the armed conflict with Azerbaijan in 1988–1994. More than 320 square kilometres of land are still estimated to be contaminated by mines and ERW.
According to the accounts of Armenian National Committee of International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), a total number of mine victims in Armenia is estimated to at least 624 persons. The combined number of people affected by mine accidents, both directly and indirectly, reaches a significantly higher figure of 2,000 to 2,500.
What we do
Victim Assistance
In January 2010, ITF initiated a two and a half year pilot project, which enabled mine victims and their families, as a vulnerable and marginalized group, to earn their livelihoods, improve their standard of living and become active members of their communities. Due to the success of the pilot phase, the project was prolonged for additional three years and ended in 2015. In 2022, ITF will provide psychosocial rehabilitation for 12 children, victims of armed conflict, at the Slovenian seaside.
Capacity Building
ITF has been present in Armenia since 2003. During this time, ITF supported the Armenian Armed forces with demining equipment and mine detection dogs, organized trainings in mine victim assistance and regional workshops and most recently executed a Mine Detection Dog Partnership Program in Armenia together with the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) and Mine Detection Dog Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina (MDDC).
For more information on ITF’s past activities in Armenia, we welcome you to consult our Annual Reports.