PAKISTAN

PROJECT TITLE: Mine Action and Victim Assistance

PROJECT AREA: KURRAM AGENCY, FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREA (FATA)

CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT

The FATA area of Pakistan remains heavily contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) resulting from the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989 and the airdropping of landmines on both sides of the Afghan and Pakistan borders (known as the Durrani Line). There are 6-7 acknowledged landmine/UXO incidents each month and an estimated 2,300 mine victims within the Kurram Agency at this time. Victim numbers are highest amongst children, agricultural workers and pastoralists. There are many also from amongst the Afghan refugee population and yet others transported from the adjacent provinces of Afghanistan. The problem results in the loss of lives and limbs, and has a huge impact on social and economic activities. The already limited availability of farming land has been further compromised by landmine/UXO contamination.

RESPONSE INTERNATIONAL’S PROJECT
The project started in February 2003 and targets the Kurram Agency of FATA. It will run for three years. No other organisation is providing mine action services in the region. The project’s aims are:

• Reducing the incidence of landmine/UXO casualties
• Improving the survival of new casualties as a result of the First Aid training
• Supporting the physical rehabilitation of existing landmine/UXO victims
• Developing a victims database linked to a GIS to facilitate future mine action activities in the area
• Improving educational and economic opportunities as a result of the mapping of contaminated areas
• Mobilising the community with the development of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to enhance local capacity
• Giving a greater sense of hope within this neglected area

For further information about Response International’s Mine Action Project in FATA, please click here.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

The project is supported by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. It is run with a local partner in FATA called the Community Motivation and Development Organisation (CMDO). CMDO, an active and motivated member of the Pakistan Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL), has been operating within FATA for five years, providing mine action (mine awareness education, advocacy, survey and clearance activities) and victim assistance services (prosthetics and rehabilitation) within this much neglected region. It will continue to raise awareness of landmines and UXO within FATA and encourage its’ network CBOs (community based organisation) to use their own influence with their political representatives. In addition, CMDO will help organise national workshops and, where possible, participate in international landmine conferences.


FUTURE DIRECTION

Response International wishes to expand the current project to cover the adjacent Agencies of Khyber and Aurakzai and to implement a training programme to enhance significantly the capacity of local health services to manage major traumatic injuries (from road traffic accidents, mine injuries and gunshot wounds in particular). Applications have been submitted to a number of donors to secure the necessary funds.