Support the Border Outposts on the Tajik-Afghan Border

The Shurabad region of the Afghan-Tajik border represents one of the most volatile locations in terms of drug trafficking, having witnessed six armed conflicts between drug traffickers and border guards, the deaths of four traffickers and two guards, and the significant seizures of  illicit drugs in this year alone. In order to help the area's Yakchi-Pun border outpost to cope with these high levels of pressure, the UNODC project "Strengthening control along the Tajik-Afghan border" has provided the site with significant infrastructural development and training support. Delayed since October 2010 due to unfavorable weather conditions, the developments undertaken at the Yakhchi-Pun border outpost have included the construction of modern pre-fabricated structures and the installation of an independent hydro power turbine. These developments, completed in May, has improved living conditions at the site while developing the professional capacities of border guards. The prefabricated buildings constructed at Yakhchi-Pun have used a design developed in the framework of UNODC project. Their construction, using metallic sheets and sandwich panels, are high strength, waterproof, insulated for protection against the elements, fireproof, and can provide a lifetime of service with minimal maintenance. The new pre-fab buildings have been installed with new green energy equipment, specifically a hydro power turbine linked to a nearby spring which will provide an alternative electricity source to the expensive energy produced by the site's fuel-powered generator. The official hand over ceremony of the newly constructed buildings and the hydro power turbine was held on 29 June with participation of Mr. Brownfield, a visiting INL Director to Tajikistan, Mr. Kenneth Gross -US Ambassador to Tajikistan, Lieutenant-General Sherali Mirzo - Chief of the Tajik Border Troops and others. Since the beginning in 2000, the project "Strengthening control along the Tajik-Afghan border" has helped to provide comprehensive support to strategic outposts including Bakhorak, Bog, Sari Gor, Shogun, Yol and Yakhchi-Pun. These developments have included the provision of qualitative refurbishment works along relevant training, equipment and furnishings to Tajik Border guards.