woman deminer in iraq

Annual Report
2020

IN 2020

Our experts have helped to shape a safer world

FSD destroys mines and explosive remnants of war, clears sites polluted by toxic waste and supports peace and development in countries affected by armed conflicts.
Discover their stories

Thousands of children, women and men can now walk, grow crops, work and play in safety

Discover how FSD’s teams in the field have contributed to a safer future. Take part in our contest and you might win an FSD Swiss knife!
portrait

NOOR

Destroys mines
_
COUNTRY
IRAQ
AGE
28
occupation
DEMINING TEAM LEADER

Noor has been a deminer in Iraq for two years

Her job consists of locating and neutralising improvised explosive devices laid by Daesh jihadists in the region of Mosul.
7803
7803
WITH NOOR’S HELP
LIVES SAVED
MINES AND UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE WERE NEUTRALIsED BY FSD IN 2020

FROM MORNING UNTIL NIGHT

Noor scans the land with her metal detector, inch by inch

In order to guarantee the quality of their work and their own security, deminers scan the ground in two-metre wide lanes, progressing 15 cm at a time. According to estimates, one year of war leads to 10 years of demining.
Noor using her metal detector.

An area larger than the City of London

15cm at a time
IN 2020, WE SECURED

3’221’401 m2

DEMINING ACTIVITIES ARE CARRIED OUT in

temperatures of up to 45°C

This work requires a strong focus from the deminer, despite work conditions sometimes being extreme.
technical

SPECIFICATIONS

_
MACHINE TYPE
ARMOURED FRONT LOADER
Dimensions
8.2 x 2.7 X 3.4 mEtres
WEIGHT
19 tonNes
Price
CHF 40’000

Armoured mine clearance machines

In addition to the meticulous work of Noor and her colleagues, FSD uses construction machines especially adapted for demining. They are particularly useful for clearing collapsed buildings.
FSD ALSO CLEARS LANDS POLLUTED BY

toxic waste

In 2020, in Tajikistan, FSD secured a storage site where tonnes of soil polluted by obsolete pesticides were excavated. The objective is now to develop a technology allowing the remediation of these lands. FSD is working on a solution in partnership with the United Nation Environmental Programme.
portrait

OBAIDULLAH

Prevents accidents
_
country
afghanistan
Age
30
occupation
COMMUNITY LIAISON Officer

“I’m fulfilled when I have prevented children from going to play in dangerous areas”

Almost one out of two victims of accidental explosions are children. Because of their shapes and colours, some mines and unexploded ordnance can easily be mistaken for a toy by the youngest.
EVERY DAY, OBAIDULLAH AND HIS COLLEAGUES go into

isolated villages in the Afghan mountains

to educate populations of the risks of mines and unexploded ordnance

Explosive ordnance risk education

How to prevent accidents? By learning to recognise the different types of explosive ordnance present in the region. And by knowing how to react to stay safe when facing such an item.
Puppet show used to explain to children to stay away from explosive ordnance. Displayed on the Facebook page of FSD’s Iraqi programme in February 2021
IN 2020
32
'
845

adults and children were educated of the risks of mines and unexploded ordnance

FSD’s teams are taking advantage of their presence in villages to identify survivors of accidental explosions, to whom they propose socioeconomic rehabilitation measures.
WE ALSO CONDUCT CAMPAIGNS TO

reduce poor health caused by toxic waste

In 2020, FSD intervened in Tajikistan in villages contaminated by obsolete pesticides dating from the Soviet era. Local communities received advice on how to minimise their exposure to toxic waste.
portrait

ANGELA

Passes the torch
_
Country
Colombia
Age
42
occupation
head OF a CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME

“We work hand-in-hand with local authorities to develop customised solutions”

FSD shares its expertise with national authorities and civil society in the concerned countries. The objective is for them to be able to take complete charge of mine action activities autonomously as soon as possible.
3 deminers back from the minefields

We have been demining for more than

20 years

FSD launched its first humanitarian demining project in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1998. Since, the organisation’s deminers have cleared more than one million mines and items of unexploded ordnance in around thirty countries, on four different continents.
our EFFICIENCY is BASED ON OUR

technical expertise

FSD is fortunate to be able to count on highly qualified staff in all of its fields of activity. The organisation conducts operations following strict procedures developed in accordance with international standards, which are then adapted to each context.

INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS

In 2020, FSD continued to contribute to the FindMine project of the Urs Endress Foundation. The objective of the project is to develop a drone specifically designed to detect mines and other explosive ordnance.
portrait

DIMITRI

Manages a field office
_
country
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
age
35
occupation
field office ADMINISTRATOR

“It is a privilege for me to participate in the reconstruction of my country”

FSD supports the current peace process and the populations affected by war and instability with various activities: water and electricity supply, access to education…
FSD IS active IN AREAS which are

DIFFICULT TO ACCESS

_
distance
(Bangui to bouar)
441km
time
approx. 14 hours
average speed
31 km/H

Our teams are working in unstable contexts

FSD creates

local jobs

More than 90% of FSD’s employees are recruited directly in the field within local communities.
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eduard
otanko
sara
saman
Inna
Khurshid
oksana
Ako
Bakhtyar
OMER
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salomé
raza
eduard
otanko
saman
Inna
sara
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Khurshid
Ako
oksana
portrait

JOANNA

Supports FSD
_
Country
switzerland
age
35
occupation
jurist

"I realized the extent of the damage caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance among the civilian population"

Touched by the meticulous and dangerous work accomplished by deminers every day, Joanna is part of FSD’s regular donors since 2018.

Our quality labels ensure Joanna and other donors absolute transparency.

FSD is subject to regular audits from different certification entities. The ZEWO label guarantees that donations are collected and managed with integrity and efficiency.
LIKE JOANNA
6
'
347
PRIVATE DONORS guarantee our independance AND the SUSTAINABILITY of OUR ACTIONS
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The most demanding institutional donors also trust us

FSD’s activities are also funded by various public institutions, international organisations and private foundations.

The most demanding institutional donors also trust us

FSD’s activities are also funded by various public institutions, international organisations and private foundations.
TODAY

only regular private donations allow us to act rapidly

where the needs are most urgent
Institutional funding is crucial for FSD, even though it is often for specific projects and need many months of planning in advance.
Private donations guarantee our independence and the sustainability of our actions.

How can you help us?

1
By meeting our

Street Heroes & Door Heroes

Our teams come to meet you in the street and at your door to give you the opportunity to become a regular donor if you wish.


2
BY TALKING TO YOUr COMPANY ABOUT

Charity Rounding

You and your colleagues can help us collectively with a micro donation of a few francs directly collected on your pay slip at the end of the month.
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3
BY FINDING OUT MORE ON OUR POSSIBILITIES OF

You can now support us by a punctual donation in a few clicks directly from our website. You can also find information on wills and legacy.
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Donations & Legacy

YOU CAN ALSO HELP US

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4
5
BY following FSD ON THE

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The simple fact of following us and sharing our content helps us to continue our actions.

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2020

Our impact

For many families, the threat of explosive ordnance or toxic waste is now part of the past. In some regions, insecurity has decreased and the prospect of a lasting peace has come closer.
Discover our projects

In 2020 FSD was active in eight countries

Ces pays ont tous connu - ou connaissent encore - des conflits armés dont les traces menacent la survie et les moyens de subsistance de la population. La FSD élimine ces traces et se joint à des efforts collectifs pour que les communautés retrrouvent sécurité et stabilité.
Those countries have all known – or are still suffering from – armed conflict posing a threat to the lives and the livelihood of populations. FSD clears those remnants of war and joins collective efforts to help communities recover safety and stability.
Afghanistan
Central African Republic
Chad
Colombia
Iraq
Philippines
Tajikistan
Ukraine
2020

Financial transparency

FSD’s accounts are presented in full in our financial report, prepared in accordance with the Swiss norm GAAP RPC 21.
ONLY
7%

of our budget is allocated for administrative costs

In 2020, FSD implemented its humanitarian activities with a budget of CHF 20 million. The organisation carefully manages its operating costs in order to maximise its impact for populations affected by war and instability.

THANK YOU!

Together, we can act. Every donation contributes to shape a safer future for those who have already suffered so much.

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‍ALLOCATION

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Pictures BY ©Alexandre Streuli and ©FSD