- The UK Government makes second contribution of £500,000 to
support the clearance of landmines in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
- Funding will be enable the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) to help with training and expert advice in
effective mine clearance. The UK’s contribution to demining in
this region - one of the most contaminated with land mines and
unexploded ordnance in the world - now totals over £1million.
The UK Government is providing a further £500,000 to the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support land mine
clearance in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
New funding will provide vital training and expert advice to make
the area safe, prevent injuries and save lives.
Minister for Europe and North America, , said:
“This UK contribution will harness the UN’s expertise, reduce the
risks to civilian life in both Armenia and Azerbaijan, and allow
people to rebuild their lives.
“In the spirit of protecting all the peoples of the region, the
UK urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign the UN conventions that
seek to eliminate the use of anti-personnel landmines and cluster
munitions. We encourage the authorities to ensure the UN
and other humanitarian agencies are able to contribute fully to
supporting peace and development across all parts of the
region.”
The latest contribution brings total UK funding for demining to
over £1 million since the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020. It
builds on the UK’s £1million donation to the International
Committee of the Red Cross in 2020.
The region is one of the most contaminated with land mines and
unexploded ordnance in the world.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Launched in 2015, the Conflict, Stability and
Security Fund (CSSF) is a cross government fund which works
to build peace and stability in countries at risk of
instability and in regions suffering from long running
conflicts.
- The CSSF operates in over 80 countries and
territories, delivering more than 90 programmes and combines
Official Development Assistance (ODA) and other,
non-ODA funding sources.
