OSCE MISSION SAYS THE FIRES IN THE BORDER LINE AFFECTED THE REGION’S ECOSYSTEM
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2007
"The monitoring group was not able to review firefighting equipment
in the eastern part of the contact line. Azerbaijani representatives
stated many times that their equipment and technical devices meet
modern standards and can be used in firefighting. They said that the
only obstacle to the work in the regions near the contact line is
mined areas, unexploded military equipment and fire from the opposite
side. The group visited firefighting departments in Nagorno Karabakh.
They found out that firefighting services are equipped with out-of-date
equipment used for 20-25 years. At the same time Nagorno Karabakh’s
relief prevents taking efficient measures against fires.
There is lack of equipment to extinguish fire manually in the
places where cars can not reach. There is also shortage of water,
it is connected with lack of irrigation system, artesian wells, and
lack of agreement and mutual activity between the two sides of the
contact line to use all water resources," says the report drawn up
by OSCE mission which monitored the fire-hit places, Bernard Snoy,
Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities told the
APA. According to the report, the fires caused damage of greenery and
economic losses. Economic losses in Nagorno Karabakh are estimated
to amount to 3.5 million Armenian drams ($9m).
"The head of Tartar region executive power said 10,548 families
suffered from the fires. Azerbaijani press writes that the damage is
estimated to amount to AZN7.5m ($8.6m). Economic losses to be caused by
the degradation of ecosystem have not been estimated yet. Some local
residents say that smoke started as a result of fire were dangerous
for the health of sick people. The head of Agjabadi executive power
said that smoke had a negative influence on the people suffering from
asthma and cardiovascular diseases as well as the elderly. There are
bullet holes on fire engines in Nagorno Karabakh and Tartar. Heads of
Tartar and Agjabadi executive powers said that the number of people
bitten by snakes increased. About 48 appealed to hospitals. It is
connected with migration of snakes and rodents from the fire-hit
places. The discussion over the influence of fires on environment
underlined several times that fires influence atmosphere and cause
climate change."