From 14 to 19 April 2026, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supported the Specialized Search and Rescue (SAR) service of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (CoESCD) in conducting a one-week training course on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) operations during emergencies. The course involved an international trainer-expert and was held in two locations: Dushanbe (April 14-16) and the Karatog National Training Center (April 17-19). The training was designed for regional SAR personnel of CoESCD.
Fifteen regional participants were trained in the fundamentals of UAV operations in disaster response. The curriculum included an overview of UAV applications in SAR operations, understanding various types of natural disasters - such as earthquakes, floods, fires, avalanches, and car accidents, and possible UAV use scenarios. Additional topics included monitoring of hot spots and latent sources of emergency situations, observation of critical industrial and production facilities (e.g., dams), aerial photography and video recording of affected areas and facilities, and transmission of information to control centers for the co-ordination of rescue teams. Beyond introductory sessions, participants engaged with more technical aspects, including UAV technology and mission planning, UAV flight simulators, and practical flight operations.
As part of monitoring tools, participants underwent pre- and post-evaluation testing to assess their existing theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in operating UAVs.
This activity aligns with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2019 - 2034, the Mid-term State Programme for the Protection of Population and Territories from Emergency Situations for 2023 - 2028 and its Action Plan, as well as the pillars of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030 on enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response.
