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Tajikistan National Mine Action CenterAyni 121
Dushanbe, Tajikistan,
www.mineaction.tj
Tel/Fax: (992 37) 227-0947,
221-66-87
UNDP Administrator and Deputy Administrator visit Tajikistan National Mine Action Centre
09.06.2015
Dushanbe, 9 June 2015
The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ms. Helen Clark and Ms. Cihan Sultanoğlu, UNDP’s Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS visited the Tajikistan National Mine Action Centre (TNMAC). The Center was established as an independent national entity by the Government of Tajikistan in January 2014. Since 2003 a comprehensive mine action programme had been set up and coordinated with the support of UNDP. “Nationalizing Tajikistan’s mine action center is an important step towards taking on full national ownership”, explained Deputy Director Alisho Shomahmadov during the visit.
Helen Clark congratulated TNMAC and the UNDP support team for its impressive work. “Handing over cleared land to communities, saving lives from horrendous accidents through education and supporting victims to live a dignified life are very tangible results.”
Tajikistan is a State Party to the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention; it has accepted the obligation to clear all known mined areas by 1 April 2020. In 12 years Tajikistan has made good progress in providing a safer environment for the people living in areas affected by landmines, cluster munition remnants and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Almost 14 square kilometers of land have been cleared along the Afghan border and in the Central Region by TNMAC’s implementing partners; 55,729 mines and 8,106 ERW were identified and destroyed. Mine Risk Education, delivered by trained teachers and volunteers, reaches more than 40,000 persons in 330 villages in 35 districts every year with a focus on children and youth. Assistance to more than 600 of the 853 registered mine/ERW victims (89 women, 510 men, 55 girls, and 199 boys), their family membersand to other persons with disabilitieshas improved their quality of life – for example by providing access to rehabilitation, to psychosocial care and to livelihood opportunities.
TNMAC highlighted that in addition to the already increasing Government commitment the continued support by UNDP and other development partners will be crucial to be able to reach the goal of a mine-free Tajikistan by 2020 and to continue providing risk education and victim assistance in an age - and gender sensitive manner.
