Hands-on training for civilian and military stabilisation experts in Botswana
Members of the Stabilisation Unit’s Civilian Stabilisation Group (CSG) have recently returned from the wetlands of Botswana’s vast Okavango Delta after training with the military on Exercise Civil Bridge. This exercise was designed so that both civilians and military could practice together, the skills which operational theatres such as Afghanistan will need more and more, as the country edges closer to handover in 2015.
A group of 35, including 5 CSG members and service personnel from the Military Stabilisation Support Group (MSSG), deployed to the southern African republic, at the invitation of the Office of the President. Their mission was to carry out an independent assessment of the National Disaster Management Office’s Disaster Risk Management Plan, to assess the Government’s preparedness for disasters and emergencies such as flooding, fires and air accidents. They were also asked to run a Civil Military Co-operation (CIMIC) course for the Botswana Defence Force, to train them in how to assist the Government in any civil disasters. The visit concluded with a 2-day planning exercise in the North-west district capital of Maun, for those involved in infrastructure maintenance and emergency services from across the whole country.
The Okavango Delta region of Botswana is a UNESCO world heritage site and is a unique habitat for birds and wildlife. It is the main tourist destination in the country for safaris, and the people who live along the Okavango River and on the delta itself make a living from fishing and agriculture in the only part of Botswana not covered by the Kalahari Desert. The whole area is susceptible to flooding on a cyclical basis and this has seen people being displaced from their homes and roads crops and cattle being damaged and destroyed by floodwater.
With most of the CSG working as specialists in stabilisation skills, such as emergency planning and development, they were ideally placed to contribute to the National Disaster Management Plan and to see if it could be implemented at national, district and right down to village level.
To carry out the assessment, the group was split into four stabilisation teams based in the capital city, Gaborone, the main north west town of Maun, which is the district capital of Ngamiland on the Okavango Delta, and two towns along the Okavango River; Gumare and the northern-most town in the country and Shakawe, near the border with Namibia. Each group had a CSG member attached. An exercise HQ was also based in Maun. Team members went out everyday to speak to national and local government officials, planners, village chiefs and ordinary members of the community to assess what their roles would be in the event of a disaster and to se what improvements could be made, if any to the co-ordination.
The Stabilisation Unit recruits, trains and deploys civilian specialists in various aspects of stabilisation to conflict affected countries, often to work with military personnel. This exercise was an ideal opportunity for some of the CSG members to do this in a more benign environment with their military counterparts, before deploying for real. Civilian Team Leader, Cathryn Hannah was based at the Exercise HQ in Maun:
“This exercise has been a fantastic opportunity for the group’s members to train with the military, so they can build relationships and test the skills they will need when they deploy for real.
“For me personally, it was a great chance to work in a military team and at the same time, learn so much about disaster management in Botswana.”
Greg Hicks, who works as works in DFID as a Conflict Prevention and National Security Policy Adviser, was based with the Northern team in Shakawe, with a huge area of operations to cover during the exercise. Most mornings saw Greg and his colleagues crossing the Okavango River by ferry and travel to speak to village chiefs and administrators, as well as Government officials, about their views on the country’s readiness for flood management.
“Training alongside military colleagues is an important part of being in the CSG. To know that our efforts might also improve the lives of ordinary people from Botswana in the event of further massive flooding makes it particularly rewarding,” said Greg.
Exercise Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lex Agathangelou, said that it was excellent training for members of the CSG and the MSSG as well as providing a vital piece of work for the Government and the people of Botswana.
“The primary aim of Exercise Civil Bridge has been to train members of the MSSG and CSG in their basic stabilisation skills, in a fairly harsh and basic but benign environment, to emulate as much as possible what they might encounter on operations. It is also going to be a great help to the Government as we will be able to present them with an independent assessment of what they are capable of now, and some recommendations which they will then be able to work on.
"It has proved that the Integrated Approach works, that the MSSG and SU can work together in harmony, without friction, and effectively share and delegate tasks between the two groups. I have no doubt at all the Exercise and its deliverables would not have been such a success without the civilian SU team.”
Watch the exercise in action on British Forces News.