MINE DETECTING DOGS
IN TAJIKISTAN
In
early 2005, Tajikistan Mine Action Centre (TMAC)
took the decision to speed up mine clearance
operations by establishing Mine Detecting Dog (MDD)
teams. Given that dogs can locate mines in mere
minutes where humans might take hours or even days,
the establishment of a mine detection dog capability
was seen as the perfect opportunity to significantly
increase the productivity and the cost efficiency of
demining operations. Tajikistan relied upon the
positive experience of neighbouring Afghanistan in
this area.
Under the “Mine Clearance and Survey” pillar of mine
action activities, TMAC initiated a Mine Detecting
Dog (MDD) Capacity in Tajikistan, which is currently
implemented by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action
(FSD).
Initial appeal for funding was put forward in 2005
and was secured later that year. Total cost for the
entire first year of operations is around $ 700,000
US.
In
early 2006, 12 dogs were purchases from Germany (at
the cost of $ 6,700 US ea.) and were transferred to
the Mine Dog Centre (MDC) in Kabul, Afghanistan were
the dogs and 18 Tajik handlers were trained for a
period of 8 weeks. Subsequently, they arrived in
Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where they are currently based
at the Engineering Battalion of the Ministry of
Defence. Since arrival, dogs and handler have
undergone further training in order to prepare them
for eventual deployment before the end of this
season’s (2006) demining operations. The initial two
MDD teams (4 dogs) were deployed to Chorchrogh in
the Rasht Valley in August 2006.
Assuming a seven-hour working day,
six-day week, and 144 days per year when weather
conditions are suitable for work, each MDD can be
expected to clear no more than 5,000 square metres
per week. If site conditions are difficult, (any
combination of steep gradient, dense vegetation,
high metal content, bad weather, broken terrain),
this rate of productivity will decline dramatically.
Experience in other mine-affected
countries indicates that the use of MDDs can
increase the productivity rates of manual clearance
teams by up to 200% - and in favourable conditions,
even more.
It
is envisaged that a total of six MDD teams will
eventually be ready for deployment. This is
calculated on the basis of one team per Mince
Clearance Team (MCT) plus one team for minefield
surveys and one team in reserve or continuation
training and testing. One MDD supervisor is also
employed to manage all six teams.
MDDT set includes:
