Mine Risk Education
Since September 2001, the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) has supported the Red Crescent
Society of Tajikistan (RCST) in elaborating a mine
awareness strategy, including educational activities
and materials for use in mine affected communities
and at risk-awareness group meetings. The Mine Risk
Education (MRE) strategy has been coordinated with
Government ministries including the Ministry of
Emergency Situations. In 2003, the Government of
Tajikistan, with the support of the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) and Organization of
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
established the Tajik Mine Action Centre (TMAC), and
commenced a programme of assessment, survey and
clearance of identified mined areas. The TMAC is
the executive arm of the Government, with legal
authority for all mine action initiatives in
Tajikistan and is responsible for planning and
coordination of mine action activities.
MRE activities have been carried out with a
community-based approach as its foundation. All
activities start and are implemented at the
community level including data-gathering information
on mine victims. This information is gathered from
mine-affected communities and is analyzed thoroughly
in order to find durable solutions tailored for the
needs of that particular community. These solutions
are then communicated back to the mine-affected
communities through a number of different mediums.
The MRE program is implemented through the volunteer
network of RCST which is currently working in five
districts throughout Rasht Valley, where people
continue to live with mines and UXOs left from the
Civil War. Moreover, RCST is also involved in
projects in additional six mine-affected districts
of Soughd region as well as one district in
Tursun-Zade and two districts in Gorno Badakhshon
Autonomy Oblast (GBAO).
Our MRE activities and informative materials are
directed at increasing the likelihood of a healthy
and risk-free lifestyle in mine-affected areas for
community members. We seek ways to instruct
community members how to adapt when living in
mine-affected areas. Our MRE seminars focusing on
reducing the risk of landmines include: collecting
firewood, tending livestock and using unfamiliar
paths. Such activities have been identified through
the analysis of accident data and discussions with
people in mine/UXO affected communities.
The MRE program volunteers of the RCST who have been
trained in their respective communities and continue
to carry out training of other community members,
namely: teachers and village administrators so that
information continues to be disseminated and people
reminded to apply the information and advice that
they receive. The RCST volunteers together with
District and Regional representatives and local
media have developed a strategy for dissemination of
information and advice through local radio,
television and newspapers.
Description of activities
1. Community-based Mine Risk Education training for
the RCST volunteers:
This refresh training took place in 3 regions of
Tajikistan – Sougd region, Rasht valley and GBAO.
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In Sougd, 20 RCST branch volunteers from 6
mine-affected districts, representatives of the
Ministry of Emergency Situation and Civil
Defence (MES), as well as 6 local journalists
were trained and given additional MRE tools.
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In Rasht Valley, 12 RCST branch volunteers from
5 mine-affected districts were trained and given
additional MRE tools.
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In Tursun-Zade, 2 RCST branch volunteers as well
as representatives of the Ministry of Emergency
Situation and Civil Defence (MES) were trained
and given additional MRE tools.
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In GBAO, 6 RCST branch volunteers from 2 mine
affected districts were trained and given
additional MRE tools.
2. Roundtable on information gathering:
During these roundtables, TMAC sought to pass on
information regarding the latest in IMSMA mine
accident forms which are universal mine action forms
used internationally. These forms were translated
into Tajik and Russian. These forms have been
updated for the purpose of better MRE information
gathering.
3. MRE presentations:
These presentations, conducted by RCST MRE
volunteers in 14 mine-affected districts of
Tajikistan, were targeted at community members who
are involved in MRE activities in their respective
communities. These members are thought to give
additional presentations to their communities on MRE
matters.
4. Working with the media:
Roundtable for 12 journalists of Sougd Oblast took
place in Khojand. The Journalists received
information on Mine Awareness program and the role
and tasks of the Media in this program were
discussed. Throughout 2006, 5 TV ads were prepared
by TMAC and distributed to national and local media
for broadcasting.
5. Publication of Materials:
Materials are used as teaching aid and are developed
in accordance with the program cycle - planning,
field testing, producing and distribution. More
than 16,000 publication materials were distributed
in 14 mine-affected districts including: posters,
leaflets, calendars, etc.
6.
Monitoring of MRE programme:
Monitoring of the MRE programme was done through
response to questionnaires by mine-affected
community members who are the main beneficiaries of
the programme.
7. Risk-Reduction activities:
With the help of local authorities and funded by MRE
programme, RCST local branch created 8 safe
playgrounds in 4 districts in Soudg region.
Download the RCST report for
2007.
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