1. Tajikistan Project Visit- Phase 1 Report
Dushanbe and the Khorog
1st to 7th November 2015
alfredwilson@sky.com - julie@easst.co.uk

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6th January 2016
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
FIREAID, an organisation established with a small grantfrom the UK Department for International
Development (DFID), bringingtogether a number of UK Fire & Rescue Humanitarian Aid organisation’s
under one umbrella.FIREAID’s member organisation’s operatein over 30 countries particularly where the
challenges of fires,natural disasters and road crashes aremostacute – providingfireand rescue
humanitarian aid to communities in need of such assistance. Among other areas of work, FIREAID
provides guidanceand sets standards for donation projects,manages an equipment database,and
provides a forum for discussion on issues relevantto its members. Further information can be found on its
website: www.fire-aid.org.
An initial scopingvisit to Dushanbe,Tajikistan took placein March 2015,funded by DFID, to begin
exploringhow the UK might cooperate with Tajikistan and bestsupportthe emergency services.The
evidence gathered showed that the fireservicelacked the equipment, trainingand resilienceto
effectively respond to road traffic collisionsand other emergencies in both Dushanbe and rural areas (the
full scoping reportis availableon request). The report recommended that a large-scaledonation and
trainingprogramme should be implemented to build the capacity of the emergency services in this vital
area startingin 2016.This second visittook placein November 2015,funded by the British Embassy in
Dushanbe, to donate trauma equipment to appropriateservices and further plan the larger scaledonation
of fire and rescue aid to Tajikistan in 2016.
Delegation
Alfred Wilson (Chair SESHAA and Steering
Group Member FIREAID)
Michael Pitney (Advisor EASST and Steering
Group Member FIREAID)
Paul Radcliffe(SESHAA and Steering Group
Member FIREAID)
JulieUtting (Director of Administration and
Communications,FIRE AID and EASST)
Partner Organisation Representative
FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance(an affiliateto the Aga Khan Development Network)
Pete Stevenson
Young Generation of Tajikistan
Naimjon Mirzorakhimov
Kumush Murtazakulova

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6th January 2016
CONTENTS
Executive Summary .........................................................................1
Contents ............................................................................................2
Objectives..........................................................................................3
The Programme.....................................................................4-5-6-7
Potential Funding Partner Meetings………………………………………8
Phase2 proposal- September 2016……………………………………….9
Notes…………………………………………………………………………………..10

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OBJECTIVES
Followingon from the success of the March 2015 scoping visit,and with supportfrom the British
Embassy,FOCUS and Young Generation Tajikistan,this
visitwas an importantstepping stone for a wider donation
of aid and trainingin 2016.The FIREAID team made a
donation of £40,000 of trauma equipment, firefighting
PPE and other essential emergency rescue supplies to
emergency services in Dushanbeand Khorog accompanied
by instruction.The visitis key to the planningof the
donation takingplaceas Phase2 in 2016,including
discussions with the emergency services and other
relevant stakeholders regardingthe equipment, convoy
requirements, trainingprogramme and other essential
aspects.A particular interestof the group is to look at
road traffic collisionswhich in 2013 were the causeof 18.8 deaths per 100,000 population (an increase
from 2010 when the figure was 18.1).
90% of road deaths and injuries occur in low- and middle-incomecountries that have only 48% of the
world's registered vehicles
FireAID members are working with rescue services to build capacity,supply equipment for emergency
response, providetraining,a multi-agency approach,community engagement, education and Build
political will

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THE PROGRAMME
Monday 2nd November 2015
Meeting with Ambassador Philpott.
Venue: British Embassy, Mirzo Tursunzoda Street 65, Dushanbe 734002
The team met with the Ambassador at the British Embassy, Alf Wilson thanked Ambassador Philpottfor
his sponsorship of the trip and ongoingsupport and explained the team’s ongoingplans. JulieUtting
talked through the plans specificfor the week. Details were discussed for the Dushanbehandover and
press.The meeting was informed of the increasein road traffic deaths in Tajikistan and thelatestWHO
figures (up from 18.1 to 18.8)
It was agreed that the team would be supplied with a list
of contacts to approach for fundingin the week. The
ambassador asked about road safety educational
materials.JulieUtting informed of EBRD materials and
Young Generation of Tajikistan.TheEASST grant
agreement was signed.
The Ambassador expressed his wish to supportPhase 2 of
the project in 2016 but due to budget restraints and
strategy, he cannot guarantee anythingat this stage or
what amount. JulieUtting to contactthe Ambassador in early 2016 reference the next grant application
form. The donor listwill befollowed up.
Meeting with General Ibrohimzoda (formally Mammadov), Head of the Republican Fire Service Station.
The team updated the General on plans for the week and possibleplans for 2016.Details werediscussed
for the week and possiblechanges to the programme depending on weather, transport, and the Khorog
phaseof the visit.Details for the handover and roundtable were discussed and agreed. The General
informed the team that 13 fire serviceinstructors and 10 medics havebeen identified to receive training
later in the week.
Working Dinner with Peter Stevenson, Focus Humanitarian Assistance (affiliate to Khan Development
Network)
The meeting discussed the issueof the travel arrangements to go to the Khorog, the weather would be
the main obstacle,if the weather stopped the Helicopter flyingwe would have to discusswhether we split
the team, two member’s travel by road to Khorog and two members stay in Dushanbeto meet with the
Minister,Generals and undertake the handover of the donated equipment. The weather would determine
our decision.

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Tuesday 3rd November 2015
Travel to Khorog Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region
Weather conditions meantthat the planned
helicopter travel was cancelled.JulieUtting
and YGT had already in placea back-up plan
to move the roundtableif necessary from
Thursday to Friday–this was put into action
and agreed by all stakeholders includingthe
Ministry of Internal Affairs before the team
departed Dushanbe.
The team took the Pamir Highway, the M41,
a road traversingthe Pamir Mountains
through Afghanistan,Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
and Kyrgyzstan. It is the only continuous route through the difficultterrain of the mountains and serves as
the main supply route to Tajikistan'sGorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. The route has been in use
for millennia and formed one link of the ancient Silk Road trade route. The roadway is paved is some
areas,but is mostly unpaved. The road is heavily damaged in places by erosion,earthquakes, landslides,
and avalanches.The road follows the river alongthe Afghan border where the Taliban areknown to
operate. The Focus vehicles and reputation in the region providesome protection in that regard. The
team arrived lateon 3rd November.
Wednesday 4th November 2015
Khorog Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region
The team visited the Focus local officeto meet with staff and plan the day. FOCUS were thanked for all
their supportregardingthe visit. Followingthe FOCUS meeting the group spent the morning at the main
firestation in the town:
An official handover ceremony of equipment took placewith the Chief,
the equipment had been transported earlier by FOCUS from Dushanbe to
the Khorog. Two members of the FIREAID team undertook trainingof the
crew in the use of the donated equipment, Thermal ImagingCameras,
Spine Boards,Cervical Collarsand Personal ProtectiveEquipment and
attendance certificates were awarded.
The local Firefighters gavea demonstration of their expertise in the use of
hook ladder and use of pumps and hose. A planningdiscussion took place
with the Fire Service Chief regarding the FireService equipment needs,
RTC extrication,linerescue,search and rescue, future support and training
in incidentcommand (especially largeincidents), BA and control of the scene, fireinvestigation.
Key points from Khorog planningdiscussion:the regions of GBAO also havesmall firestations.Itis the
main station that coordinates the response. Individual numbers existfor 3 services.The Focus team then
took the FIREAID group to visit“Eraj’s Lake” to view the devastation of the June flooding.Over 80 homes
remain underwater.

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6th January 2016
Alf met with Committee for Emergency Situations, in Khorog, who were fully supportiveof the project.
The Officer in Charge asked for a future partnership to be formed and combined trainingwith the Fire
Service, a lack of equipment was evident, a listof requirements was noted.
Thursday 5th November 2015
The team took the Pamir Highway, the M41, back to Dushanbe, a road traversingthe Pamir Mountains
through Afghanistan,Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,and Kyrgyzstan. The trip alongthis road took the team
approximately 12 hours. Drivingthe Pamir Highway back to Dushanbe, the team experienced first-hand
the dangers of the road in Tajikistan. Aid workers engaged in humanitarian work often find themselves in
extreme environments – facingrisksfromnatural disasters,terroristattacks and crime.But the greatest
risk they face is often unrecognised: road deaths.
Accordingto Paul Jansen,Executive Director of Fleet
Forum, “Road traffic accidents arethe number one killer of
aid workers.” The poor road conditions of the mountain
road caused an articulated lorry to become lodged on a
corner of the Pamir Highway. The team discovered that
justa few kilometers’after passingthelorry,itleft the
road,crashinginto the river below and killinga driver.
Friday 6th November 2015
Roundtable meeting- Dushanbe
In addition to providingtrainingand equipment, a key
objective of the team was to plan what is hoped to be
a larger scaledonation of aid in Phase2-2016.A
successful roundtablediscussion was held with the
Deputy Minister for the Interior,Deputy Minister
Olimov Nasim, FireService General Ibrohimzoda,
Traffic Police(GAI) Health Service, Focus
Humanitarian AssistancePeter Stevenson, Shodmon
Hojibekov and Young Generation Tajikistan to gather
information,receive feedback and informproject
stakeholders on the team’s aspirationsfor the 2016
Phase. The issueof a Memorandum of Understandingwas discussed and agreed, to be forwarded by
FIREAID in February 2016. There was in depth discussion regardingthecooperation and inclusion of the
Dushanbe Republican FireServicetrainingschool and instructors in theproject, this was also agreed with
both the Deputy Minister and General Ibrohimzoda.
It had been brought to the attention of the team that it was not legally possibleto bringrighthand drive
vehicles into Tajikistan,an examplewas given by FOCUS of some righthand drivevehicles being stopped
at the border. The issuewas discussed with the Deputy Minister and the General Ibrohimzoda,they both

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6th January 2016
gave an assurancethatwe would receive a letter allowingany of our vehicle’s acrosstheborder into
Tajikistan,this was supported by the Police(GAI) representative, who also stated that a Policeescortwill
be made availableto meet the convoy at the Tajikistan border.
The official handover of the donated Fire Service and Medical equipment.
Friday 6th November 2015
Dushanbe Fire Station.
Followingthe roundtable meeting, a gathering of Fire Officers,Firefighters,FireService Training
Instructors,Medics and Medic Instructors were assembled in Dushanbe FireStation. The purposeof the
attendance of these personnel was to undertake some familiarisation trainingfor the donated equipment.
The instruction was well received and the personnel
attending were keen to learn abouttheir new kit,
followingthe instruction,certificates of attendance
were issued by the British Ambassador,Hugh
Philpott.The instructors weregathered together
separately and itwas explained to them the
importance of their rolein the project, also the role
of the Fire Service TrainingSchool as thetraining
venue.
The Handover Ceremony.
The handover of the donated equipment was preceded by a formal ceremony attended by the British
Ambassador, Hugh Philpott, Deputy Minister Olimov Nasim,FireService General Ibrohimzoda,Traffic
Police(GAI) Health Service, Peter Stevenson, Shodmon Hojibekov Executive Officer,Focus Humanitarian
Assistance,the FIREAID team and the Fire Service and Medical personnel from Dushanbe. The
Ambassador spokein fluent Tajiki to the gathered audienceand thanked FIREAID and its partners for their
ongoing support. The Deputy Minister also spokeof FIREAID and its commitment to the project and added
that the Tajiki government are lookingforward to future partnership and cooperation,which they will
supportand promote.
The medical aid worth £30,000 was handed over to
the senior medical officer from Dushanbe, who
expressed the thanks of his Minister and the team
at the Dushanbe Hospital for the donation and
partnership.Alf Wilson spokeon behalf of FIREAID
and its partners and reiterated all thatthe previous
speakers had said,the Ambassador was particularly
thanked for his fundingtoward the cost of travel
and accommodation for the FIREAID team, without
this supportthis phase1 of the project may have
had to be undertaken in early 2016.The Officers and personnel who attended were thanked for their
interest and keenness shown in the trainingsessions and a particular mention was given to the Deputy
Minister Olimov Nasim,FireService General Ibrohimzoda, for their support, friendship and partnership.

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POTENTIAL FUNDING PARTNER MEETINGS
Friday 6th November 2015
SWISS AGENCY FOR COOPERATION
JulieUtting and Mike Pitney had a very positivemeeting with Firuza Rahimova,the National Program
Officer for Monitoringand Evaluation of the Swiss Cooperation OfficeTajikistan partof the Swiss Consular
Agency.
Key points:
On hearingabout the project, Firuza indicated thatthe team would be welcome to apply to their small
grants programme and would send through details to JulieUtting.
The United Nations Development Programme were commissioned to change the Tajikistan emergency
phone serviceto a singleunified number. A Swiss surgical teamwill likely travel to GBAO in Spring2016 to
conduct trainingwith medics for 10-15 days.Firuza will keep Julieinformed on this.The sustainability of
the project and its valuefor money were emphasised.
UNICEF
A similar positivemeeting was held with 3 representatives of UNICEF who know both Focus and YGT well.
Again, the sustainability of the projectand its valuefor money were emphasized by Julieand Mike. Julie
expressed the importance of prevention, safety messages and sustainablelongterm behavioral change.
The UNICEF team stated that they do not convey fire, road or disaster safety messages to children in
current literature,media etc. but would consider doingso in the future.
The UNICEF team therefore proposed:
20 cartoons will beproduced next year for children,currently there is no content on fire,road, disaster
safety. There was a Suggestion of cooperation in this area on the new script.Messages arecurrently on
hand washingand other topics but nothing on these issues.
Communication for Development Programme, contains guides on emergency prevention messages in
different languages. FIREAID can add messages to this on what FIREAID is doingif we wish.This is
distributed to NGOs and FIREAID can be integrated into this.
It was suggested that FIREAID approached the EU mission,Oxfam,Japan and German Embassy for grants,
they will providecontacts for National Committee in London too for possiblefunding

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PHASE 2 PROPOSAL-SEPTEMBER 2016
The focus of Phase2, September 2016, is on the response to road traffic collisionswhich currently cause
18.8 deaths per 100,000 populations in Tajikistan (WHO)–a considerably high road death rate. A project
to supply road safety education,fire fighting vehicles,equipment and trainingto the Republican Fire
Service and other emergency services in Tajikistan isrecommended. The infrastructureis already in place
to receive any donations.
The supply of three Emergency Service Vehicles,equipped with standard Firefightingequipment plus an
RTC extrication capability,should besplitbetween two Fire Station areas of Dushanbeand Dangara. A
further rescuecapability in the form of a 4x4 will besituated ata picked station in the Khorog, Pamir
mountains.
Assistanceis also proposed for the Policeand
Ambulance services. All equipment and
vehicles to be sourced as redundant donations
from Fire & Rescue Services, Ambulance
Services and manufacturers. The equipment
and vehicles to be transported by road convoy
from the UK to Dushanbe- 4,261 miles.Convoy
drivers to be flown from Dushanbeto UK. A
team of instructors to be flown into Dushanbe
to undertake a trainingcourse/courses,thevenue to be the Republican FireServiceTrainingSchool,this is
also the accommodation for all personnel.
Courses to be delivered: Vehicle and equipment familiarisation- RTC extrication Course- Trauma Training
Course (F&RS personnel) Inter serviceLiaison Course RTC- Command and Control at the Scene. Trauma
trainingRTC coursefor Medics to be undertaken at the FireService TrainingSchool where possible.
The proposed RTC/Rescue vehiclefor the Pamirs, researched by personnel during phase 1 will be put in
placeand appropriatetraining,RTC, swiftwater rescue, linerescue and Mountain Rescue to be
undertaken
The proposed dates for Phase 2-2016;
The Convoy sets out from the UK, Staffordshire,9th September, drivers to fly back to the UK on the 24th
September. A small FIREAID team will arrivein Dushanbeon the 14th Sept to set up the trainingschool
baseand get ready for arrival of convoy and instructors etc. Instructors fly outto Tajikistan fromthe UK,
18th September, flyingback to the UK on the 1st October.
Documentation.
A Memorandum of Understanding to be formulated, agreed and signed by the partner and recipient
organisation’s.
A business plan to be formulated, agreed and signed by the partner and recipient organisation’s.

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NOTES