International Mine Awareness Day marked: Tribesmenurged to adopt safety measures

BARA: The Pakistan Red Crescent (PRC), Fata chapter, on Thursday organised events at various parts of the tribal regions to mark the "International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2018".

The events were meant for creating awareness among people about minefields and explosive material and sensitize them on adopting the safety measures. The Mine Awareness Day is observed on April 4 with an aim to reduce social, economic and environmental impact of landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) on community.

Besides Kurram, Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, the PRC Fata also arranged an event at Takia Markaz of Bar Qambarkhel in the Bara tehsil of the Khyber Agency. Political Tehsildar Ghuncha Gul Mohmand, Captain Adnan of Frontier Corps (FC), Imran Afridi of Awami National Party and people from other walks of life including, media men, civil society members, students and headquarters and agency staff of PRC Fata were also in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Director of Youth and Volunteer Muhammad Riaz Khan, shed light over various welfare activities of PRC Fata during natural and manmade disasters, saying the purpose of this day was to mobilize and sensitize tribespeople on losses due to mines and explosives.

He urged people to extend support to the PRC Fata for demining the areas to further minimize the risk of damages. "Because of the worsening law and order condition in Fata, mines and explosives have either killed or disabled hundreds of men who were unaware of its hazards," Riaz stated.

A great number of people have benefited the Community Based Risk Education and Victim Assistance (CBRE/VA) Programme underway in Fata by the PRC Fata in which awareness sessions in schools, community and other areas are delivered on daily basis throughout the year, he added.

Imran Afridi of ANP, Captain Adnan of Mehsud Scouts, tribal notable Muhammad Amin, journalist Saleem Afridi and others in their speeches eulogized the efforts of the PRC Fata and extended their full support to arrange awareness sessions in Bara tehsil.

They appealed to the participants to convey the informative message to family members and women so that they could adopt safety measure. Later, the officials distributed gifts among the disabled persons on the occasion.