OSCE completes training course on winter search and rescue to build capacities for officials of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence
The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe completed a capacity-building training course on winter search and rescue for 18 representatives of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (CoESCD) on 28 January 2021. The three-week course aimed at enhancing the rescuers’ skills and capacities in the area of search and rescue operations in an avalanche area as well as the recovery of victims after an avalanche in challenging winter conditions.
The training course covered topics such as working with a schematic map, movement technique on mountainous terrain, tools and equipment of a rescuer in the mountains during winter, extreme movements on frozen water, search and rescue operations in an avalanche area and others.
Theoretical sessions were held in the Republican Training Center of the CoESCD in Dushanbe city and practical sessions were conducted in the Varzob district. Local experts from the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the CoESCD delivered the course.
Project Manager Antoni Mis, said: “The winter search and rescue course is one of the most crucial trainings that was delivered within the framework of our project. It was a very interesting experience to observe the CoESCD rescuers train during practical exercises conducted under the watchful eye of a very experienced colleague, who has a true wealth of experience in conducting mountain rescue operations. I am positive that the experience and new skills the rescuers have acquired during the course will be successfully used by them upon their return to their duty stations across the country.”
Ainiddin Rajabov, Rescuer, training participant from Khatlon region said: "We learned specialized skills and enhanced our knowledge on conducting search and rescue operations during winter time, in difficult terrain and in adverse weather conditions. We highly appreciate all the efforts of the CoESCD, OSCE an EU for arranging this course and making significant contribution to enhance our qualification on search and rescue area."
The event was conducted as part of the OSCE’s project on the “Stabilization of Tajikistan’s southern border region with Afghanistan. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of CoESCD to respond to natural disasters in border regions.