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THE KARABAKH PROGRAM OF THE HALO TRUST ORGANIZATION WILL BE INTENSIFIED
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=912:-the-karabakh-program-of-the-halo-trust-organization-will-be-intensified&catid=5:politics&Itemid=17
Monday, 28 January 2013 09:58
Program Manager Nick Smart denies the Azerbaijani propaganda machine's
lie on donors.
Thanks to the 13-year mine clearing activity of The Halo Trust British
non-governmental organization in Karabakh, the number of accidents has
considerably reduced, and according to the 2011-2012 data, no death
was registered in the entire territory of the republic. In 2013, it is
planned to complete the mine clearing in two sections of the Martuni
region, as a result of which the entire region will be mine cleared.
Mine clearing will be actively continued in the Hadrut and Martakert
regions.
Sappers have not completed mine clearing in the Askeran region, since
this process is carried out step by step. According to the schedule,
soon this area will be also cleared of unexploded mines and other
ammunitions. This was informed to the Azat Artsakh by manager of the
Nagorno-Karabakh program of The HALO Trust organization Nick Smart
who started his office in June 2011.
Last year, 5 cases of civilians' blowing up by landmines and other
ammunition were fixed; 6 people were injured, among them - two
children. The most severe case was fixed in Kubatlu: the victim lost
his limbs. In 2011, there were four accidents caused by explosions on
anti-personnel mines and other ammunitions, resulting in the injury
of 5 people. The victims, including two children got different-degree
injuries. Deaths were not reported.
The works on neutralization of the territories in Karabakh started
in 1995. According to the statistics, in the period between 1995 and
2012, there were 270 accidents caused by explosion of mines and other
ordnance; 346 people were injured, among them 91 children. 74 deaths
were registered. It should be noted that through the implementation of
its humanitarian mission in our republic The HALO Trust organization
was invaluable in ensuring the security of the NKR citizens, as well
as training sappers.
Are there any problems with funding the Karabakh program? According to
N. Smart, to date, two basic donors continue providing their financial
assistance. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
provided about $ 1 million as of September 2012. The second donor -
the UK private organization Reece Foundation and Grapes for Humanity
donated $ 300.000 to the NKR in May 2012. The contract with this
organization expires in April 2013. According to our interlocutor,
other funds are also interested in providing humanitarian assistance
to Nagorno Karabakh and, in particular, one of them (Mr. Smart didn't
note the source) expressed readiness to conduct wide-scale works on
mine clearing in Kashatagh. The program manager is going to present
the annual budget to this fund.
He gave another example testifying to the organization's concern about
the Karabakh sappers. The additional grant from the USAID was not
enough for paying the entire staff's salaries. In last August, staff
reduction in 20 sappers was planned, but the talks of the Karabakh
program manager with Director of the organization Guy Willoughby
resulted in the Director's decision to sponsor the 20 sappers through
the domestic resources of The HALO Trust. "In this September, the
USAID funds will run out, but our joint work will not complete thus.
We hope for continuing the cooperation with the United States, which
will allow to increase the works' volume", said the program manager.
Our next question to Mr. Smart related to another disinformation of
the Azeris, according to which The HALO Trust failed to find new
donors, which will lead to the termination of the organization's
activity. The program manager denied this misinformation, stating that
the organization would continue its activities in Nagorno-Karabakh.
About how long it will take to complete the mine clearance throughout
Karabakh? According to N. Smart, it all depends on the available
resources and opportunities. With the current number of employees it
will take about five years. 13 teams participate in the mine clearing
works. According to the Karabakh office, the number of employees
makes 140 people, 120 of them belong to the operational staff and
are directly involved in the field works. For 13 years, the Karabakh
sappers have worked with the British non-governmental organization
within the humanitarian program for removing the consequences of the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh war. According to N. Smart, the Nagorno-Karabakh
sappers' staff is one of the best among the other staffs of The
HALO Trust worldwide. "The management team, which has worked in
the organization since 2000, i.e. since the start of the program in
Nagorno-Karabakh, is quite professional. Their knowledge of the works
in mined areas is invaluable. The collaboration of the management team
with field engineers is on the highest level. Without such employees,
the program would not be successful. Of the 140 employees, I am the
only foreigner". According to N. Smart, the organization is just
represented here; this is a Karabakh program and it is managed by
Karabakh specialists. He can only note the directions of works.
Everything is done by the local staff's efforts and the country can
be proud of them, he said.
The organization has offices in Washington and San Francisco, which
mainly deal with financial issues.
This year, one of the senior employees of the Karabakh office will
be sent to the United States for arranging the issues related to
the funding.
At the end, Mr. Smart noted that this year the UK is celebrating
the 25th anniversary of The HALO Trust's foundation. Since 1988,
it has realized humanitarian mission in different parts of the world
(the first country was Afghanistan). During the year, the mass media
will widely highlight the humanitarian mission of the organization in
all directions. He also noted that in 2013, the son of Lady Diana,
Prince Harry, following the example of his mother, would become a
sponsor of the organization.
Ruzan ISHKHANIAN
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=912:-the-karabakh-program-of-the-halo-trust-organization-will-be-intensified&catid=5:politics&Itemid=17
Monday, 28 January 2013 09:58
Program Manager Nick Smart denies the Azerbaijani propaganda machine's
lie on donors.
Thanks to the 13-year mine clearing activity of The Halo Trust British
non-governmental organization in Karabakh, the number of accidents has
considerably reduced, and according to the 2011-2012 data, no death
was registered in the entire territory of the republic. In 2013, it is
planned to complete the mine clearing in two sections of the Martuni
region, as a result of which the entire region will be mine cleared.
Mine clearing will be actively continued in the Hadrut and Martakert
regions.
Sappers have not completed mine clearing in the Askeran region, since
this process is carried out step by step. According to the schedule,
soon this area will be also cleared of unexploded mines and other
ammunitions. This was informed to the Azat Artsakh by manager of the
Nagorno-Karabakh program of The HALO Trust organization Nick Smart
who started his office in June 2011.
Last year, 5 cases of civilians' blowing up by landmines and other
ammunition were fixed; 6 people were injured, among them - two
children. The most severe case was fixed in Kubatlu: the victim lost
his limbs. In 2011, there were four accidents caused by explosions on
anti-personnel mines and other ammunitions, resulting in the injury
of 5 people. The victims, including two children got different-degree
injuries. Deaths were not reported.
The works on neutralization of the territories in Karabakh started
in 1995. According to the statistics, in the period between 1995 and
2012, there were 270 accidents caused by explosion of mines and other
ordnance; 346 people were injured, among them 91 children. 74 deaths
were registered. It should be noted that through the implementation of
its humanitarian mission in our republic The HALO Trust organization
was invaluable in ensuring the security of the NKR citizens, as well
as training sappers.
Are there any problems with funding the Karabakh program? According to
N. Smart, to date, two basic donors continue providing their financial
assistance. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
provided about $ 1 million as of September 2012. The second donor -
the UK private organization Reece Foundation and Grapes for Humanity
donated $ 300.000 to the NKR in May 2012. The contract with this
organization expires in April 2013. According to our interlocutor,
other funds are also interested in providing humanitarian assistance
to Nagorno Karabakh and, in particular, one of them (Mr. Smart didn't
note the source) expressed readiness to conduct wide-scale works on
mine clearing in Kashatagh. The program manager is going to present
the annual budget to this fund.
He gave another example testifying to the organization's concern about
the Karabakh sappers. The additional grant from the USAID was not
enough for paying the entire staff's salaries. In last August, staff
reduction in 20 sappers was planned, but the talks of the Karabakh
program manager with Director of the organization Guy Willoughby
resulted in the Director's decision to sponsor the 20 sappers through
the domestic resources of The HALO Trust. "In this September, the
USAID funds will run out, but our joint work will not complete thus.
We hope for continuing the cooperation with the United States, which
will allow to increase the works' volume", said the program manager.
Our next question to Mr. Smart related to another disinformation of
the Azeris, according to which The HALO Trust failed to find new
donors, which will lead to the termination of the organization's
activity. The program manager denied this misinformation, stating that
the organization would continue its activities in Nagorno-Karabakh.
About how long it will take to complete the mine clearance throughout
Karabakh? According to N. Smart, it all depends on the available
resources and opportunities. With the current number of employees it
will take about five years. 13 teams participate in the mine clearing
works. According to the Karabakh office, the number of employees
makes 140 people, 120 of them belong to the operational staff and
are directly involved in the field works. For 13 years, the Karabakh
sappers have worked with the British non-governmental organization
within the humanitarian program for removing the consequences of the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh war. According to N. Smart, the Nagorno-Karabakh
sappers' staff is one of the best among the other staffs of The
HALO Trust worldwide. "The management team, which has worked in
the organization since 2000, i.e. since the start of the program in
Nagorno-Karabakh, is quite professional. Their knowledge of the works
in mined areas is invaluable. The collaboration of the management team
with field engineers is on the highest level. Without such employees,
the program would not be successful. Of the 140 employees, I am the
only foreigner". According to N. Smart, the organization is just
represented here; this is a Karabakh program and it is managed by
Karabakh specialists. He can only note the directions of works.
Everything is done by the local staff's efforts and the country can
be proud of them, he said.
The organization has offices in Washington and San Francisco, which
mainly deal with financial issues.
This year, one of the senior employees of the Karabakh office will
be sent to the United States for arranging the issues related to
the funding.
At the end, Mr. Smart noted that this year the UK is celebrating
the 25th anniversary of The HALO Trust's foundation. Since 1988,
it has realized humanitarian mission in different parts of the world
(the first country was Afghanistan). During the year, the mass media
will widely highlight the humanitarian mission of the organization in
all directions. He also noted that in 2013, the son of Lady Diana,
Prince Harry, following the example of his mother, would become a
sponsor of the organization.
Ruzan ISHKHANIAN