Published by Nick Nwolisa on 11 Jul 2008 at en.iepf-ngo.org. In order to see pictures just visit the web site.
It was the fist time I traveled to one of the beautiful corners of Karabakh – Fuzuli. This beautiful place 15 years ago was occupied and destroyed but later liberated by Azerbaijan Army. Spring has just come and gone; the place was beautiful, everywhere covered with green looking very attractive to behold. Breathing the fresh air we walked the beautiful land, but alas! Fist time in my life I saw the poppy field. Oh, my God how beautiful it is! Getting out of car with my friend I picked poppies. It was this good beautiful moment captured on the memory of my camera that has inspired my thoughts about poppies and I wrote a poem.
This journey was necessitated under the framework of the project “Establishing of regional section of Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association in Fuzuli and directing the Terter section’s activity” implemented by the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF). As a matter of fact, I had joined in the journey based on the encouragement of the IEPF chairman, Umud Rahimoglu.
Before the journey, Mr. Umud gave me wide information about the essence of the journey and other projects in the same framework. According to his words, just recently International Awareness Day Against Mine Threat was celebrated in Aghstafa region. This meeting was organized under the framework of “establishing of Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association regional section in Aghstafa and directing its activity”. The project was implemented by IEPF with the financial support of US Department of State PM/WRA. Responsible person of Aghstafa Region Executive Power, regional representatives of Executive Power’s Head, mine victims involved in the training groups, volunteers injured by mines and representatives of mass media attended that meeting. At the end of the meeting certificates were presented to the mine victims involved in the trainings.
The meeting with the mine victims was held at the office of the Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association in Horadiz City. Here many mine victims assembled with each of them giving brief information about themselves, speaking about problems faced by themselves. Gathering the mine victims of Azerbaijan into one unit and documenting their various faced problems was achieved through the activities conducted in the projects of establishing the various mine victims associations. Under the framework of these projects different professions were taught the mine victims and law assistance was equally provided. Furthermore, micro-financing was provided to the people who work in the sphere of agriculture of all sorts and cattle breeding.
People who lost parts of their bodies, either arms or legs perhaps both, are all the member of the AMVA and were present at this meeting to tell their stories. I acquainted with one of them by name Namiq Mammadov who resides in Kerimbeyli village of Fuzuli. He teaches English language at the village secondary school. During my discussion with him, remembering that horrible day he began his story: “On 28th of February as I was cleaning the yard and gathering the rubbish with my mother, suddenly there was an explosion. It felt like someone strongly stroke my jaw and my teeth were falling out. On seeing me stained with blood my mother began to cry unaware of her own condition because she too was a victim to the explosion. Although she didn’t feel the gravity of wound or the extent of injuries she had. Not so long, the injury impact hit her and she was immediately rushed to the hospital.
I listened to his tragedy with heart-ache. After all what is the guilt of these people? Why they should feel these much sorrow in their native home? Why should they live life in constant threat of the unknown? All these are the outcomes of Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan – the land which is as a native home for me as my Nigeria.
Cleaning the lands of Azerbaijan of mines and unexploded ordinances has been a priority activity as defined by Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA). IEPF has joined to this activity since the year 2000. To my consideration, this is a very important worthy course. It will be to greater accomplishment if everybody should pay special attention to this area. As long as the territory of Azerbaijan remains under occupation and mines explosion are inevitable, consequently bringing tragedy into people’s life, everybody should be attentive and careful.
With the bunch of field poppies in my arms I am returned to Baku. On my way, I saw the wide construction works going on; new roads, bridges, parks laid out, buildings been erected, trees are planted. If only the Azerbaijan territories would be liberated soon and the war finally put to end; if only construction works of these magnitude would be carried out in Karabakh. Just if only!
My Lalə!
It was a risky but vital voyage to the unknown,
Passed through the Persia walls,
Meet so many obstacles on the way,
Covered the highlands, rode the lowlands,
But yet I persisted;
Persistence took me through all the odds,
Even to the valley of the shadow of death;
A valley characterized by buried landmines,
Conquered fear, stood on the lands,
But still I was determined;
Determination took me to the Promised Land,
What a beauty it was to behold;
Now nothing can stop me from getting the crown,
Very tender you are, needing all of my attention.
My Lalə! You are worth the journey.
Note: Written after my first trip to Fuzuli; inspired by my wife Lala the one I truly love and cherish. The trip was to visit the Azerbaijan mine victims of Fuzuli district, but on the way I came across a magnificient spectacle – poppies…
I purposed to get them home to Baku to my wife whose name is also poppy but in Azeri.
What a tender flower, immediately withers at the moment it is separated from the soil, even the slightest of wind sheds the petals.
I finally had one make it home, a journey of about 4 hours; it needed all my care and attention and that it got 100%.
16th April, 2008; composed by Nick Nwolisa.
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Nick Nwolisa is a Nigerian student living in Baku. He collaborates with the International Eurasia Press Fund and is responsible person for Refugee/IDP issues. Nick can be reached at e-mail address [email protected].
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