RISK EDUCATION & VICTIMS ASSISTANCE

The National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation (NCDR) acts as the Jordanian National Mine Action Authority and ultimately works to coordinate and supervise all programs and activities related to Mines and ERWs (Explosive Remnants of War) including Mine Risk Education (MRE) and Victims’ Assistance.

NCDR has launched a national MineERW Risk Education program in 2007, which aims to reduce the risk of Mines and ERW and to bring about a sustainable behavioral change toward its threat, Furthermore, it enables affected communities to participate in the prioritization of mine action responses. Systemized and unified operational procedures have been structured to standardize the delivery of MRE. For this purpose, MRE National Standards, SOPs (Standard Operational Procedures) and Trainers’ Manuals and Materials were developed and all are consistent with IMAS (International Mine Action Standards).

Risk Education projects and activities are targeting those most at risk Mine/ERW affected communities. Target groups include farmers, shepherds, scrap collectors and dealers, children (inside and outside schools), adolescents, as well as soldiers, forest rangers, smugglers and other community members moving through or living in affected areas.

As a result of the continuous support of donors and partners, noticeable progress has been achieved in meeting the MRE program’s main goals were almost 1,000,000 persons were reached in more than 220 impacted Jordanian communities. All MRE activities were typically coordinated, structured and supported by NCDR.

In providing MRE and other MA programs, NCDR always adheres to the international legal obligations, such as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention obligations and the IMAS.

The NCDR is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the mine risk education program. It also ensures full coordination with other mine action efforts. The NCDR will endeavor to:

  1. Mobilize resources for the mine risk education program.
  2. Collect and sharing relevant data with all actors.
  3. Advocate with decision-makers on issues related to mine risk education.
  4. Coordinate between all partners on National and International levels
  5. Create National MRE standards ,guide lines and National MRE strategy
  6. Coordinate, monitor and apply accreditation procedures (organizational and operational) to all MRE partner organizations
  7. Prepare progress reports to donors and the UN to fulfill its obligations toward MA treaties.
  8. Ensure that the presence of a central information management system (such as the Information Management System for Mine Action — IMSMA),
  9. Provide training and capacity building to MRE implementing organizations, either directly or through consultants to support the technical and operational capacity of the Mine/ERW RE Program.

As a humanitarian organization, The NCDR continues its mission to enhance the peace building process by diminishing social, environmental and economic negative impacts of landmines and ERWs in order to secure a better humanitarian environment. The current situation for the Syrian refugees is one that cannot be taken lightly. The immediate need for basic necessities of life is a priority needs to be addressed and fulfilled. NCDR has a distinct advantage in the implementation of effective and meaningful risk education interventions stemming from its familiarity with the refugee population and the culture.

The NCDR collaborated with the international communities (ICRC, ITF, HI, HCR-CTRO and UNICEF) to create an emergency RE program targeting Syrian refugees (SR) in Northern Jordan. The main goal of this campaign is to mitigate the impact of the Syrian crisis on the vulnerable people by reducing their vulnerability related to the risk from Mines/ERWs, addressing the threats posed by Landmines and other Explosive Remnants of War (ERWs) and, furthermore, to build the future Syrian MA capacity by training young SRs to be ready to act as in country MRE service providers upon returning home. The RE campaign is still active in northern Jordan (Mafraq, Irbid and Ramtha) where most SRs reside.

To date, more than 150,000 Syrian refugees have been directly reached and have increased their knowledge of risks from direct risk education sessions and 270 young SRs (males and females) received basic MRE training (ToT) which enables them to act as in-country MRE instructors.

SVA

The Jordan victims’ assistance program has been working since 2005 to improve the quality of life of ERW victims, as well as, to enhance the capacity of the national organizations rendering services to ERW victims in Jordan.

NCDR cooperates with the Ministry of Health, Royal Medical Services, the Higher Council for the Affairs of People with Disabilities (HCD), the Hashemite Committee for Disable Soldiers, the Ministry of Social Development, the Agricultural Credit Fund and other international and national NGOs to update the information and details of mines and ERWs Victims, coordinates and supports comprehensive health care, psycho-social support and Economic reintegration for victims in accordance with Jordan’s National disability strategy.

NCDR has been working hard to meet the most pressing needs for our survivors. These needs have been pursued in a number of ways:

1- National Victims Record (Database)…

During the period from 2005-2009, NCDR created a National Record on Mine/ERW Victims. In April 2010, NCDR conducted victim surveillance and needs assessment survey in which almost every Jordanian survivor received a home visit. Results of the survey indicated that the total number of victims reached 901(120 of which were fatalities). Data on LandmineERW victims were disseminated among relevant partners. In April 2012, NCDR updated the National Victims’ record showing that the total number of victims reached 923(123 of which were fatalities).

2- Improving emergency medical care and physical rehabilitation services, NCDR:

  1.  Established the National Center for amputees at the Royal Medical Services in King Hussein Medical City in Amman.
  2.  Established a prosthetic /orthotic center in the northern region Irbid – Princess Basma Hospital and supplied with all the necessary equipment and materials.
  3.  Provided two ambulances to the Ministry of Health to employ them to work in the mine-affected areas.

3- Expanding opportunities for economic and social reintegration:

A)  In collaboration with the Agricultural Credit Fund; NCDR provided more than 72 survivors with a small loans (2000 dinars), enabling them to start their own businesses in order to improve their quality of life.

B)  A two-week training workshop on food and sweet production for 10 families.

C)  A generous monthly donation(200JD) from the Crown Prince office,18 victims received the donation until January 2016.

D)  NCDR provided financial aid to 63 victims until Jan 2016.

E)  NCDR enabled victims to go for Haj and Omrah.

F)  NCDR facilitated the attendance and participation of 52 victims to the national celebrations in coordination with the Hashemite Committee for Disable Soldiers.

G)  102 victims received household electrical equipments (refrigerator, stoves, fans, washing machines).

H)  168 victims received ration food items.

I)   180 victims received clothes and blankets.

J)  120 victims received school stationeries.

K)  29 victims received mobility aids (wheelchares,walkers,canes,)

L)  80victims received personal hygiene items.

4- Capacity building of Partners Organizations and victims:

  1.  Established the National Center for amputees at the Royal Medical Services in King Hussein Medical City in Amman .
  2.  Established a prosthetic /orthotic center in the northern region “Irbid – Princess Basma Hospital and supplied with all the necessary equipment and materials.
  3.  Provided two ambulances to the Ministry of Health to employ them to work in the mine-affected areas.
  4.  More than 200 doctors and technicians trained in the latest techniques to modify the design of wheelchairs, and the design and manufacture of artificial limbs.
  5.  In April 2010, the NCDR, in collaboration with Survivor Corps Jordan conducted a victim surveillance and needs assessment survey.
  6.  In April 2012, the NCDR updated the National Victims’ record showing that the total number of victims reached 923. 120 of which were fatalities.
  7. From 2008-2010 a technical training program was provided through Montmorency College (Canada). The REHAB project (2008-2010) also helped transfer knowledge of orthopedics and prosthesis care to local technicians and clinicians.
  8.  College Montmorency launched, in close collaboration with NCDR, a three-year internship program supported by the CIDA International Youth Internship Program (IYIP).
  9. In October 2010, The NCDR, CIDA, Higher Council for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities and Montmorency College organized a workshop on the subject of Gender and disability in Amman.
  10. In May, 2010 the head of the SVA department attended the Essential Management skills seminar at McGill University, Canada.
  11.  The Victim Assistance Coordinator at NCDR attended a two- week training course on Field Epidemiology for mine action at the CDC- USA, promoting skills to better undertake surveys, surveillance and data analysis for mine action planning, monitoring and evaluation.
  12.  Two doctors from RMS (Royal Medical Services) and the MoH (Ministry of Health) attended the 4th National Spinal Cord-Injury Conference.
  13. In October 2010, four PO technicians attended a 4 -month training on prosthetics orthotics in Montreal, Canada.
  14.  Five Jordanian landmine survivors attended a training program for landmine/ERW survivors in Lebanon from 9 – 16 May 2011. The Program, called Pathways to Resilience, brought landmine and ERW victims together for a week-long workshop to train them on creating peer support networks and developing leadership and planning skills.
  15.  In 2012, NCDR in collaboration with the Polus Center,  facilitated three training workshops:
  • Invacare Corporation provided a (wheelchair fitting and cushioning) training workshop, which was attended by 45 participants from all VA partners in Jordan.
  • A five-day training workshop was provided on orthotics & prosthetics that aimed to teach the O/P technicians the latest trends in the artificial upper and lower limbs fitting. The workshop took place at the Ministry of Health and was attended by 28 participants from all VA partners in Jordan.
  • A four-day training workshop was provided on (Ischial Containment Socket design). The workshop took place at the National Amputee Center (Royal Medical Services), and was attended by 35 participants from all VA partners in Jordan.