A panel discussion titled “Technology and Innovation for Safer and More Effective Humanitarian Demining” was held as part of the 4th International Mine Action Conference on “Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of Excellence for Safe Human Settlements,” APA reports.
The panel discussion addressed the role of technology and international cooperation in making humanitarian demining activities safer, more effective and innovative.
Moderated by Nigel Ellway, Special Adviser to the UK Parliament on the Impact of Explosive Weapons, the panel featured an exchange of views on strengthening national demining capacity through training, institutional development and the exchange of international experience.
During the discussions, the importance of applying advanced technologies to enhance the safety and efficiency of humanitarian demining operations was emphasized.
Elise Becker, Executive Director of the Marshall Legacy Institute, also spoke during the panel.
She said Azerbaijan is a successful example in terms of building and developing national demining capacity.
E. Becker noted that the Marshall Legacy Institute is a US-based non-profit organization that supports post-conflict countries in rebuilding their capacities.
According to her, the organization’s Mine Detection Dog Partnership Program has been operating for nearly 30 years, and during this period, 325 mine detection dogs have been provided to approximately 12 countries facing mine threats.
The Executive Director said the program’s main objective is to build local and national capacity from the initial stage.
E. Becker emphasized that the Marshall Legacy Institute has been cooperating with ANAMA in Azerbaijan since 2005. At the initial stage, mine detection dogs were provided to Azerbaijan, while the organization’s trainers, together with its partners, trained ANAMA’s dog handlers and their supervisors.
She said that in subsequent years, ANAMA increased its operational experience and developed significant expertise in managing and using mine detection dogs and ensuring the sustainable operation of dog teams.
“Over the past five years, with the support of private donors, we have donated more than 60 mine detection dogs to ANAMA. They are currently operating in the field,” E. Becker noted.
She added that the national capacity established during the initial stage of the program made it possible to expand mine detection dog capabilities fairly rapidly.
“I think this shows that our national partner, ANAMA, has evolved from a recipient to an owner, and then to an expert in working with mine detection dogs,” the Executive Director of the Marshall Legacy Institute emphasized.
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