The FSD is shocked and deeply saddened
by the tragic accident which killed the French Warrant Officer Gilles Sarrazin
Wednesday 19 April on a mine field in Panj District.
Gilles Sarrazin was seconded by the
French Army to the Tajik Mine Action Center (TMAC) and integrated in FSD's
demining operations.
FSD deminer Azam Asrorov was wounded in the same accident, but his life is not in danger. He is recovering from his injuries in a Dushanbe hospital.
The FSD is currently conducting an internal investigation and provides full assistance to the independent board of inquiry constituted by the TMAC.
FSD has been active in Tajikistan since 2002 in partnership with the OSCE and has been carrying out technical surveys and demining operations since 2003. FSD has trained 157 national deminers and cleared 123 000 m2 of agricultural land. Technical surveys have been carried out in over 253 villages.
During these operations, FSD has destroyed more than a thousand antipersonnel mines and in excess of 4 500 explosive remnants of war.
FSD's demining operations in Tajikistan are financed by OSCE, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, UK, Canada, Norway and others.
At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of our deceased colleague, Gilles Sarrazin, and hopes and wishes for a speedy recovery go to Azam.
For further information, contact
David Smyth
FSD Programme Manager Tajikistan
david.smyth at fsd.ch