Mines Risk Education  Program (MRE)

“Mine Risk Education” refers to “activities which seek to reduce the risk of injury from mines/unexploded ordnance by raising awareness and promoting behavioral change, including public information dissemination, education and training, and community mine action liaison”. It clears that the MRE is an essential component of Mine Action, mostly based on Community liaison and Public Education. It is further noted that Mine action program use both approaches as they are mutually reinforcing.

Introduction of Project:
In the War affected Area, Malakand Division namely (SWAT, DIR and BUNER) is the most crucial and a risky one. Since 2004 these areas were gradually moving towards a devastating stage as the Local Taliban took over the De-facto control and as a result the local masses compelled to evacuate the areas in summer 2009. The conflict in South Waziristan has resulted in heavy use of artillery and large scale destruction of villages in the Meshud tribal areas. There are reports of the use of booby traps and landmines by armed NSAGs. The Pakistani army media cell has indicated that the army has encountered victim-activated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and factory-made antipersonnel mines (APM) and anti-tank mines (ATM) in the areas, which it attributes to the Pakistani Taliban and associated militia. Similarly due to the heavy artillery shelling and air bombing from the military, there are fears of items of ERW lying amongst civilian populations and covering agricultural fields. IDPs will, therefore, be exposed to significant risk from ERW when they return to their places of origin and attempt to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. Given the problems outlined, SPADO feels that there is an evident need for MRE as a critical means of safeguarding the well-being of local populations, including those already living in contaminated areas, and those yet to return to their places of origin. By educating the people living, working and traveling in contaminated areas, MRE plays a critical part in saving lives and protection from injuries. Such education when properly carried out should assist not only in the identification of landmines and UXO, but also in methods of prevention and response. SPADO has taken the initiative of risk reduction to human life in mine contaminated areas through MRE awareness project.

General Objective:
To contribute towards reduction of risk due to landmines, IEDs and other remnants of war by providing the necessary information to manage the menace to the population of Malakand and South Waziristan, who are greatly at risk.

Specific Objectives:
To provide a preventive intervention capacity for the reduction of the mine/ERW/IEDs risk to the affected population in the current crisis in NWFP and South Waziristan

Funding Partner:
UNICEF is funding for mine risk education project of Swat Malakand and MAG is providing support in capacity building of SPADO’s staff and for focal persons at community level at D.I Khan and Tank.

Project Time Line:
Since October 2009 SPADO stared its awareness raising activities and is engaged in it to till date.

Methodologies:
• Schools and community Mine Risk Education Sessions will be delivered at all the target areas’ schools with children.
• Training and Capacity Building of Stakeholders (religious scholars, media people, community representatives, and community elders) who will be involved in all awareness raising process.
• Strong data collection and referral system has been established for mine/ERW incidence
• Community Mobilization, Networking and Referral
• First Aid Training will be providing to focal persons to cope with emergency situation up to some extent.
• Dissemination and Replication of Best Practices will be carried out.
• Mass Awareness and Communication through Media is also part of MRE awareness raising process.
• MRE Materials (leaflets, Stickers, posters) has already been developed with the input and support of UNICEF and other partners of the Mine Risk Education Working group.

Staff Capacity Building:
Staff capacity building is the core competency of SPADO. Before project implementation staff has been trained and refresher trainings are part of staff capacity building process

Geographical Outreach
Malakand, Swat, Dir, Bunir, D.I.Khan, Tank.

Beneficiaries/Participants:
SPADO is the implementing partner of UNICEF in Mine Risk Education in Swat, Buner and Dir from October 2009 to December 2010. Up till now the organization has imparted MRE to more than 170,000 individuals in the three districts of Malakand Division through sessions far exceeding the target. Similarly, data on Mine Victims has also been collected, so far 28 Victims been identified by SPADO MRE Teams.

Usually, just after a conflict or a natural disaster, all the population is at risk. We can anyway find target groups more vulnerable than others that so need a special attention (depending on the type of emergency). During the project period the following will be the direct beneficiaries under different project activities:
• General population in the target districts;
• Current and future returnees, moving back home;
• Children that are particularly exposed and are living and playing around dangerous areas;
• The population living around the suspected hazardous and battle areas.

Advocacy
Being a member of ICBL and focal point in Pakistan SPADO is also involved in Advocacy at national level through involving the Media people, religious scholars and also community to address and reduce the land mines incidents. SPADO involves general public organization, officials, NGOs and other individuals without discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, nationality and ethnicity in her campaign against the mentioned menace.

@ Copyright Sustainable Peace and Development Organization - SPADO
For General Inquires Contact us at: spado@spado.org.pk