Project Alliance, Tajikistan, Plan “B” Phase 2 Report

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Following a successful delivery of aid and training in November 2015, a team of FIRE AID members returned to Tajikistan in September 2016 to continue their effective cooperation with emergency services. The team compromised of representatives of two of FIRE AID’s founding members - Staffordshire Emergency Services Humanitarian Aid Association (SESHAA) and Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST) - delivering life-saving extrication equipment, firefighting PPE, and other rescue items to fire services in the capital Dushanbe and to the main fire station in the town of Khorog in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in cooperation with FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance (an affiliate of the Agha Khan Development Network), EASST road safety partner Young Generation of Tajikistan, and sponsored by the UK Embassy in Tajikistan – all united to improve emergency response and to address some of the key risks facing the country.

FIRE AID, an organisation established with a small grant from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), brings together UK Fire & Rescue humanitarian aid organisations under one umbrella as well as providing guidance for donation projects, managing an equipment database, and providing a forum for discussion on issues relevant to its members. SESHAA is a UK registered charity, number 1070739, and has been operating Internationally since 1995 with members from Fire and Rescue Service, Police and Ambulance Services. The charity is based in Staffordshire, UK. EASST is an independent UK-registered charity conducting a range of activities focusing on both the prevention of, and response to, road traffic collisions and has established an active network of NGOs working across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. 

Due to a delay in funding for the full Phase 2 of Project Alliance, a plan (Plan “B”) was put into action to fulfill part of the original plan to take a convoy of emergency service vehicles and an instructor training team to Tajikistan in September 2016. With funding from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a team of 7 flew out to Dushanbe on the 18th September 2016 as follows:

Alf Wilson, Chair of SESHAA, Trustee of FIRE AID, Fire and Rescue Service AdvisorChris Wood, Vice Chair of SESHAA, Steering Group of FIRE AID, Fire and Rescue Service AdvisorJulie Utting. Director of Administration FIRE AID, Director of Communications EASSTAdam Gent, Medic Instructor SESHAA, CEO Real First Aid LtdNeil Pedersen, Lead Instructor SESHAA, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service InstructorJohn Kitchener, SESHAA Instructor, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service InstructorDamian Armstrong, SESHAA Instructor, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service Instructor

Partner Organisations:

Ambassador Hugh Philpott, British Embassy DushanbePete Stevenson, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance (an affiliate to the Aga Khan Development Network)Naimjon Mirzorakhimov, Young Generation of Tajikistan

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CONTENTS

Executive Summary.................................................................1

Contents..................................................................................2

Objectives.............................................................................3-4

The ProgrammE..................................................................5-13

POTENTIAL FUNDING PARTNER MEETINGS...........................14

PHASE 2 Completion-PROPOSAL-May 2017..........................15

Phase 2 completion-Funding Requirements..........................16

Feedback-STUDENTS TRAINED ON PHASE 2 PLAN “B” COURSES…….16

NOTES....................................................................................17

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OBJECTIVES

This phase of the project was the third visit to Tajikistan for the team with previous visits taking place in March 2015 for the initial scoping visit and November 2015 for the first donation of rescue and medical equipment and training.

The objectives of this third visit were:

- to improve the capacity of Tajikistan emergency services to respond, particularly to road traffic collisions

- to donate road crash rescue equipment (severely lacking in Tajikistan), medical equipment and PPE to keep crews safer

- training for crews in how to use the donated equipment, RTC extrication, control techniques and scene management

- training for Fire Service Medics in FPOS (First Person on Scene)

- road safety school lessons and planning of a wider prevention programme with Young Generation of Tajikistan

- an assessment of the “Command and Control” of incidents by the Emergency Service Operational Officers

Training was conducted for Republican Fire Service Personnel in Dushanbe. Training was conducted for Fire Service, Committee for Emergency Situations (COES) and FOCUS personnel in Khorog.

Prior to the arrival of the team, a total of £35,000 of rescue and medical equipment was shipped out to Dushanbe to be used by those undertaking training programmes in Dushanbe and Khorog. The equipment was officially donated to the services once the training had been completed. The total amount of equipment donated to Tajikistan from the UK since the initial scoping visit in 2015 is worth in the region of £75,000.

The total return on the initial £20,000 from the British Ambassador in Dushanbe and the UK FCO - taking into consideration the courses held, the numbers of students taught and the personnel involved – is £246,900 if calculated at UK costs, to the date of this report. This gives a return of 12.4 times the investment. This does not include the value of lives saved in Tajikistan through use of the donated equipment and training.

Now going forward, it is planned to complete phase 2 once the convoy of emergency vehicles arrive in spring 2017 if the required funding is secured. The project is at this stage is envisaged to be three to five years from the initial scoping visit that was undertaken in March 2015.

The project’s focus is on Post-Crash Care and Road Safety Education given that RTCs currently cause 18.8 deaths per 100,000 population (WH0) in Tajikistan – a considerably high road death rate. 90% of road deaths and injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries that have only 48% of the world's registered vehicles. 

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The team were assisted by EASST’s local partner, Young Generation of Tajikistan, who are currently conducting a road safety project seeking to reduce road deaths in the Firdavsi District of Dushanbe, and by FOCUS (AKDN) who have a project to provide disaster preparedness and response extending humanitarian relief and recovery following natural or man-made disasters in Tajikistan and particularly in GBAO.

Particular mention must go to Ambassador Hugh Philpott (British Ambassador to Tajikistan) for his support throughout the project 2015/2016. Without his assistance we would not be this far forward.

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THE PROGRAMME

Monday 19th September 2016

Day 1 - Equipment Check and Testing

Venue: FOCUS Warehouse

The rescue and medical equipment had been shipped out to Tajikistan in August 2016. The shipment once in Dushanbe was safely stored in the FOCUS private warehouse. Following a few hours rest from the journey to Tajikistan via Istanbul and the arrival in Dushanbe at 03:45hrs, the team undertook a thorough audit of the equipment and once verified, the equipment was thoroughly tested, prior to delivery at the Republican Fire Service Training School and transportation of the allocated equipment to Khorog, GBAO Region.

The items allocated to the Dushanbe Fire Service were dispatched to the Training School, where it would be stored until the start of the course proper on the 20th

September 2016.

Planning, Planning and More Planning.

Although the project plan and training programme had been meticulously formulated in the UK throughout a 10 month period and had been communicated to the Ministers and General of the Republican Fire Service with a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding delivered by YGT, some months before our arrival, a few of the important requirements had not been completed.

The accommodation for the instructors had not been arranged, the request for scrap vehicles for the RTC extrication training were not available and indeed the information was that there were no scrap vehicles available in Dushanbe. There were no students en route to the training school.

A number of calls to the Republican Fire Service Deputy General to confirm the instructors’ hotel resulted in the hotel being hastily arranged, however, it would not be available until the 20th. The instructors, through some local research, managed to find a vehicle reclamation yard where they would spend three hours negotiating the payment, delivery and recollection at the end of the course of two, what we could loosely call scrap vehicles. Several other issues would arise during the visit; “adaptability” is the byword for this type of work.

Working Dinner with Peter Stevenson, Focus Humanitarian Assistance (affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network.

The working dinner established again the support and assistance of FOCUS and its confirmation of the supply of transport and interpreters for the project, both in Dushanbe and the Khorog, GBAO.

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Tuesday 20th September 2016

Day 2.

The Chief of the Republican Fire Service General Ibrohimzoda was not in Dushanbe, he had been called to a meeting with the President Emomalii Rahmon, who was in the Khorog on an official visit.

The team held a meeting with the Republican Fire Service Deputy General and Young Generation of Tajikistan at the Fire Service HQ in Dushanbe. The absence of the General was explained and apologies given. The problems that presented themselves on the first day were discussed and the attendance of the students was confirmed. The arrangements for the purchased scrap cars were agreed and the allocation of classrooms and food for the instructors and students delivered.

The students arrived from various stations around Dushanbe. The instructors detected an air of apprehension, which is normal on the first day of any course, especially an international one.

The lead instructor Neil Pedersen with the officer in charge of the group welcomed them to the course and put them at ease by introducing all the instructor team and the course programme. The scrap cars arrived, not ideal for the course, the wheels were missing but at least the rest of the vehicle was intact and following some adaptation by the instructors the suitability of the cars improved. Preparation for the next full day of the course programme was completed, the next day would be the start of the course proper.

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Wednesday 21st September 2016

Day 3, RTC Extrication Course and FPOS Course

The day started with the instructors having breakfast at the training school with the students. The 36 students who attended were separated into Fire Service and Fire Medics. The classes were also formed and the introduction given by the lead instructor Neil Pedersen.

The students would be given some technical instruction for the start of the course and progress to the drill yard where a familiarisation of the equipment to be used would be given.

The enthusiasm of the students became apparent and the willingness to take part in the course was a positive start.

The management team, Alf Wilson, Julie Utting, and Chris Wood met with the British Ambassador Hugh Philpott at the British Embassy. The Ambassador emphasised the importance of the project to the Tajik Emergency Services and that he would like to continue to support the project.

The meeting went on to establish support for the completion of Phase 2 of the project for 2017.

Following the British Embassy meeting Alf Wilson, Julie Utting and Chris Wood attended a meeting at the local office of Young Generation of Tajikistan. The meeting was focused on RTC education and future support for YGT through the project. The education in relation to road safety is at the heart of the project and in partnership with EASST the completion of phase 2 will have a dedicated team to deliver to schools and colleges.

A donation of High Visibility clothing from EASST and Keir Group will assist in protecting at risk groups.

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Thursday 22nd September 2016

Day 4 continuation of the courses in Dushanbe.

The students turned up enthusiastically for the course and the RTC and Medical practical lessons on the drill yard.

For the students, it was the experience of learning new techniques at the Republican Fire Service Training School. The initial training was in relation to how the extrication equipment can be used and its limitations and its strengths. The maintenance and handling of the equipment is also as important as its safe use.

This would be the first time that some of students had used the dedicated jaws, spreaders and cutters of the hydraulic extrication equipment that had been donated. There was no shortage of willing volunteers to take the first steps toward using the equipment on the vehicles. The equipment provided can be used to extricate casualties who are trapped in the body of the vehicle but the misuse of such equipment can be as dangerous to the casualty and rescue personnel alike. The correct and safe use of the equipment, its handling, maintenance and cutting techniques are all part of the course.

The training of the Fire Service Medics is also an important part of the integrated attendance at the RTC scene and post-crash care. The Medic students undergo a practical scenario with an unconscious casualty. The dangers on approach are highlighted and a thorough check of the casualty vital. The highlighting of who is the most important person at the scene is given, that person is you, the rescue person, without your initial assessment and safety check, you yourself could become a casualty and the rescue of injured persons and saving of lives put at risk. The integrated use of both Firefighter rescuers and medics at the scene will provide the optimum chance of casualty survival.

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Friday 23rd September 2016

Day 5, Team Travel the Pamir Highway to Khorog, GBAO

Friday morning 06:00, the SESHAA Team with Pete Stevenson FOCUS (AKDN) took the Pamir Highway, the M41, to the Khorog/ Afghan Border, a road traversing the Pamir Mountains through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The trip along this road took the team approximately 12 hours. Driving the Pamir Highway from Dushanbe to Khorog, the team experienced first-hand the dangers of the road in Tajikistan. Aid workers engaged in humanitarian work often find themselves in extreme environments – facing risks from natural disasters, terrorist attacks and crime. But the greatest risk they face is often unrecognised: road deaths. According to Paul Jansen, Executive Director of Fleet Forum, “Road Traffic Collisions are the number one killer of aid workers.” The poor road conditions of the mountain road caused a lorry to become lodged on a corner of the Pamir Highway following the failure of its brakes, on this occasion there were no casualties although the driver had not only lost his vehicle but also his livelihood, most vehicles are not insured.

Arrival in Khorog, 2,600 meters above sea level, following the 12-hour drive, which is tiring to say the least, the team were exhausted. The temperature in Khorog was hot, even at 18:30 in the evening, however the team gathered at their accommodation for a briefing with the Khorog FOCUS Office team members.

Saturday 24th September

Day 6, Khorog Pamir Mountains/Afghan Border, GBAO.

Khorog, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region

The management team visited the Committee of Emergency Situations (COES) HQ to meet the Colonel in charge and plan for future cooperation. The plans going forward are to establish a COES Training School at the HQ. The Colonel thanked SESHAA/FIREAID for all their support regarding the donated equipment and training courses, both on this visit and the previous visit in November 2015.

The Instructor team quickly went to work at the Fire Station, the scrap cars were in situ, one of them had become redundant following it being hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade some months before. The donated equipment was in the station awaiting inspection by the instructors before being used on the courses.

Students attending from Fire, COES and Focus were divided into two classes for training – one RTC class and one FPOS class. The training courses went ahead with visible enthusiasm from the students.

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Sunday 25th September

Day 7, Khorog Pamir Mountains/Afghan Border, GBAO.

The training continues with further RTC and medical input. The students are extremely enthusiastic. Adam (Medic Instructor) conducted his classes in both English and Tajik. The RTC instructors out on the training ground have adapted to the different training environment.

The students are also learning about the new RTC extrication equipment, its safe use, handling techniques and maintenance. The technical input is proving to be fruitful, the students showed that the information had been remembered and were effective in the extrication techniques used.

Monday 26th September

Day 8, at 05:00 the team prepare to leave.

The trip back to Dushanbe by 4x4 via the Pamir Highway, the journey is not looked forward to the second time, knowing what’s ahead the approximate 12-hour journey is only exciting the first time it is done. The team reached Dushanbe at 18:30 for a well-earned meal and rest.

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Tuesday 27th September

Day 9, Republican Fire Service Training School, Dushanbe

The instructors and students reaffirm the previous weeks training. The instruction continued into the week. The British Ambassador Hugh Philpott, arrived at the training school to thank the instructors for sharing their knowledge with the students and congratulate the students on their efforts.

The Ambassador was extremely interested in the training and asked some in depth questions of the instructors and to the students in Tajik.

The whole team, both instructors and students, enjoyed the experience of the Ambassador’s visit and it gave a boost to show the importance that the UK Embassy place on this kind of interaction and aid development.

The training resumed after lunch where the students were given additional responsibility of forming one crew of both Medics and Firefighters to take part in a hands-on exercise on the training ground to prepare for Thursday, when they would be taking charge of an RTC scenario for the General’s visit and official handing over of the donated equipment.

The opportunity to show the new skills and equipment acquired seemed to give the students an added incentive and the involvement of both Firefighters and Medics drew the teams closer.

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Wednesday 28th September

Day 10, Schools Road Safety visit and presentation.

Whilst the instructors carried on with the last day of hands on training at the Training School, Alf Wilson, Chris Wood, Julie Utting and Damian Armstrong visited a local school organised by YGT. The purpose of the visit was to deliver a lesson in “Road Safety” Training.

The lesson and presentation that followed would assist us to gauge how this type of lesson would be received by the teachers and pupils. The plan to complete phase 2 involves the inclusion of the “Road Safety” modules, and going forward this type of education will be at the heart of the project with YGT

The lesson and presentation were very well received and the Principle of the school discussed with the team the effectiveness of such education as the ratio of deaths of young people is devastating as 50% of the country’s population is under 30 years old.

The Principle asked if we could look at her school again for future involvement in the project. She informed us that when she attends the next meeting of the teacher’s association she would speak to them in relation to further schools taking part in 2017.

The management team next met with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Alf Wilson, Chris Wood and Julie Utting met with Firdavs Faizulloev (Programme Manager) and Nargizakhon Usmanova (Programme Analyst) to discuss any cooperation and partnership that could be formed.

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Thursday 29th September

Day 11, RTC demonstration and official handover of the donated equipment.

The first half of the morning was taken up with preparation and practice for the demonstration. The students were well prepared and got on with the job at hand. The closer it got to the General’s arrival the more nervous but determined they became.

The ceremony and demonstration took place once General Ibrohimzoda and politicians arrived. Deputy Ambassador Jonathan Layfield attended on behalf of the British Ambassador. The students carried out the demonstration which went extremely well and the General was surprised and delighted at the team’s performance. General Ibrohimzoda in his speech to his personnel, who had demonstrated their skills, stated that he would have them do a similar demonstration for the President on the 2nd October at the opening of the new Fire Station in the Khatlon Region. A high honor indeed for the newly skilled students and their newly acquired equipment.

The students that qualified were presented with certificates of achievement by General Ibrohimzoda on behalf of SESHAA/FIREAID. The whole of the course, both Firefighters and Firefighter Medics posed proudly for a team photo.

Traditionally SESHAA has always held a raffle of International firefighting equipment and clothing for the students at the end of any course and the team in Tajikistan were no exception. The students once chosen randomly by a number picked out of a hat, are called out to the front of the class. The student has a choice of prize that awaits them on the table. The final award is given to the student that has shown most promise, skill and leadership during the course the “Star Student”. The award for this student is the most prized of any course.

POTENTIAL FUNDING PARTNER MEETINGS

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United Nations Development Programme

Alf Wilson, Chris Wood and Julie Utting met with Firdavs Faizulloev and Nargizakhon Usmanova to discuss any cooperation and partnership that could be formed.

The UNDP representative explained that they are preparing a programme in partnership with the Japanese to look at future partnerships in the Disaster Recovery and Rescue field. We explained that we were in partnership with and have trained the COES and FOCUS (AKDN) team members and such training was part of the overall project, part of which had been the Khorog training. The meeting ended with Nargizakhon and Firdavs stating that they would be meeting with FOCUS (AKDN) that day and following discussion at the meeting and the drafting of partnership proposals they would make contact.

Toyota

The meeting with Toyota was held at the Toyota Head Office. Alf Wilson, Chris Wood and Julie Utting met the CEO of Dushanbe Toyota Ziya Aligulov. The discussion was in relation to a possible support or partnership with Toyota in relation to the convoy of firefighting vehicles and ambulance, scheduled for spring 2017.

General Ibrohimzoda

A meeting took place, hosted by General Ibrohimzoda, the General in charge of the Tajikistan Republican Fire Service. The guests were Alf Wilson, Chris Wood, Julie Utting, Jonathan Layfield the chargés d'affaires to the British Ambassador and the Instructor Team. The meeting was informal, which in the first instance took the form of a celebratory dinner as a thank you from the General and his Officer Cadre for the continued partnership and support of SESHAA/FIRE AID. Following the dinner, the General asked for a document to be forwarded to him detailing the cost of the Spring 2017 convoy from the UK to Dushanbe to approach the President for a contribution.

The document had to include details and photos of the vehicles, estimates of the cost of transporting the convoy of vehicles, the drivers and accommodation and miscellaneous costs enroute. The total value of the proposed 2017 donation, taking into account the value of the vehicles and associated equipment, training etc. is £317,000. The sum required to deliver this is £70,000. On the advice of the General, it was suggested to seek a contribution of £20,000 from the President.

The document was completed by Julie Utting and Naimjon Mirzorakhimov and signed by Alf Wilson, Chair of SESHAA, Trustee of FIRE AID and Project lead. The General revealed that the document is to be presented to the President at the meeting of officials in the Khatlon Region of Tajikistan. At the time of writing the report, we await the outcome of the meeting.

PHASE 2 COMPLETION-PROPOSAL-MAY 2017

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The focus of Phase 2, Plan “B” September to October 2016, was Post-Crash Care and Road Safety Education to address the fact the road traffic collisions currently cause 18.8 deaths per 100,000 populations in Tajikistan. A project to supply road safety education, equipment and training to the Republican Fire Service and other emergency services in Tajikistan was delivered.

The plan for Spring 2017, is to supply four firefighting vehicles, equipped with standard firefighting equipment plus an RTC extrication capability which should be split between two fire station areas of Dushanbe and Dangara. An Emergency Ambulance will be supplied for the use of the Ministry of Health for its attendance by its medics at Road Traffic Collisions. A further rescue capability in the form of a 4x4 will be situated in the Khorog, Pamir mountains for the use of the combined Rescue Teams of the COES and FOCUS Agha Khan Foundation.

Assistance is also proposed for the Police in Dushanbe. All equipment and vehicles are being sourced as redundant donations from Fire & Rescue Services, Ambulance Services and manufacturers in the UK and Europe. The 2017 phase donated equipment and vehicles are to be transported by road convoy from the UK to Dushanbe travelling some 4,261 miles. A team of instructors are to be flown into Dushanbe to undertake further training courses with the venue for the training to be the Republican Fire Service Training School. Courses to be delivered: Vehicle and equipment familiarisation- RTC extrication Course- Trauma Training Course (F&RS personnel) Inter service Liaison Course RTC- Command and Control at the Scene. Trauma training RTC course for Medics to be undertaken at the Fire Service Training School where possible.

The Road Safety Education programme will be delivered to selected schools by SESHAA instructors in partnership with YGT.

The proposed RTC/Rescue vehicle for the Pamirs, researched by personnel during plan “B” phase 2 will be put in place by a second training team that will be based in the Khorog. The appropriate training, RTC, swift water rescue, line rescue and Mountain Rescue to be delivered to the combined COES/FOCUS Teams.

The proposed dates for Phase 2 completion -2017;

The Convoy sets out from the UK, Staffordshire, May 2017, confirmation of date to be forwarded once the Convoy funding is in place. It is envisaged that the vehicles will take approximately 12 days to complete the route. A small FIRE AID team will arrive in Dushanbe before the arrival of the convoy to set up the training school base and get ready for arrival of convoy and instructors etc. Instructors fly out to Tajikistan from the UK at a date to be arranged once funding in place, but in time for the convoy arrival. All Phase 2 completion teams will be accommodated in locally sourced Hotels or B&B where available.

A Memorandum of Understanding to be agreed and signed by the partner and recipient organisations.

PHASE 2 COMPLETION-FUNDING REQUIREMENTS

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The total value of the proposed 2017 donation, taking into account the value of the vehicles and associated equipment, training to be delivered etc. is £317,000. The sum required to deliver this is estimated at a maximum of £70,000 including some contingency and staff costs. On the advice of the General, it was suggested to seek a contribution of £20,000 from the President. EASST will submit a third application to the FCO for £10,000. EASST and the British Embassy are pursuing other avenues for the remainder of the funds required, such as crowd funding opportunities.

FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS TRAINED ON PHASE 2 PLAN “B” COURSES

“Extrication – lots of new techniques – very helfpul. I am seeeing this for the first time”.

“This has always been my wish to extricate – this is what they taught us. I really liked it and now I know there are lots of ways. Thank you for the practice.”

“I love you guys. You are amazing. Hope to see you next time.”

“A million thanks to FOCUS for helping the GBAO Region.”

“Today we learnt techniques for extrication and how to keep ourselves safe.”

“Very good theory on medical and I learnt how to provide first aid. I would like more practical activities in the future too.”

“The extrication training is completely new to us.”

“We have learnt a lot of new things and we are very grateful to the trainers. Great equipment for extrication. A thousand thanks to the team. Please come back.”

“Extrication training most important for me.”

“I really like the way Adam explained first aid training – he helped explain things twice. In Johnny Bek class we learnt a lot about extrication. It was very useful.”

Dushanbe and the Khorog, Tajikistan

18th September to 1st October 2016.

alfredwilson@sky.com - julie@easst.co.uk

NOTES

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