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Türkiye has cleared approximately 50 million square meters of land as part of its humanitarian demining efforts, coordinated by the National Mine Action Center (MAFAM) under the Ministry of National Defense.

Deputy Defense Minister Musa Heybet addressed Parliament’s Planning and Budget Committee, responding to lawmakers’ questions about the country’s mine clearance activities.

Heybet recalled that Türkiye became a party to the Ottawa Convention on March 1, 2004, and established MAFAM in 2015. The Convention commits signatories to refraining from using, developing, producing, transferring, or stockpiling anti-personnel mines.

He stated Türkiye has a total of 219.9 million square meters of mine-contaminated land and that since its establishment, MAFAM has cleared around 50 million square meters.

Modern security infrastructure replaces outdated border mines

Türkiye aims to replace outdated border security systems based on landmines with a modern physical security system.

According to Heybet, this new system includes modular concrete walls, surveillance and reconnaissance towers, access roads, and lighting, designed to prevent smuggling and illegal border crossings while ensuring effective border protection.

He also confirmed that demining activities are being conducted in coordination with the construction of this new border infrastructure.

250,000 mines neutralized

Approximately 250,000 landmines have been destroyed under the coordination of MAFAM.

Demining operations continue in several provinces, including Igdir, Tunceli, Sirnak, Sanliurfa, Kilis, and Hatay, where teams from both the Ministry of National Defense (OMAT) and the Ministry of Interior (JOMAT) are actively engaged.

Black Sea monitoring in response to drifting naval mines

In response to naval mines adrift in the Black Sea due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Türkiye’s Naval Forces have been conducting continuous 24/7 surveillance.

All detected mines are being safely neutralized to protect maritime navigation and security.

May 24, 2025 09:43 AM GMT+03:00