Placed in strategic areas, with equipment painted in the donor livery, and under the control of competent management and support staff that will provide the donors with set work programmes, will encompass the inhouse training of operators and support staff, and will provide the donors with peace of mind, knowing that their objectives for development and upliftment are met. Regular reports to donors detailing what has been accomplished with the equipment, where it is working, repair and operating costs of the operation etc. will see to the efficient running of the development projects.

Depot Managers and their staff, who are not performing to the standards set by the donors, are easily dismissed, unlike Government Officials of a recipient country. Government departments. NGO’s, agriculturists, educationalists should have access to the equipment for their projects upon presentation of their requirements. Projects will be lead by depot managers in conjunction with donors to see that the equipment is not abused and projects meet their deadlines, and the equipment is used for the purpose it was designed.

Two of the most critical requirements in a developing country, are a suitable road network and food production, by having the access the equipment, different aid organisations will be able to operate more efficiently. Delays in trying to trace support structures that are non-existent at Government level, or when available, are of such a poor quality that the whole project becomes intolerable, will be avoided. Delivery of food and medical aid or general disaster relief will be straight forward, as the necessary will be readily available, in good working condition, and operated by well-trained staff. Depot funding will not be exorbitant and contributions will therefore be made to the depots by aid organizations. The costs will be negligible in relation to the time and money that is normally wasted trying to get these operations underway. Reducing the size of the donated fleet, and using the saved money for operating the depots, will alleviate previous situations where entire fleets are left derelict and inoperative, having achieved the absolute minimum, if anything at all, because of no support structure.

The benefits to a ruling Government will also be rewarding, as the general population will perceive the developments taking place, as Government driven donor depots, and will in reality be providing Governments with a support structure that they presently don’t have, due to lack of skilled personnel. The depots will also provide the economy with a pool of operators and technicians that would not otherwise be available, due to the lack of Government training facilities and funding.

Donor depots are an obvious answer to war torn countries, enabling them to rehabilitate their road network, keep it maintained and developed, as well as training the necessary personnel and seeing to the safekeeping of millions of dollars of costly equipment. Donor depots are not designed to usurp Governments, but to see that all participants are comfortable with the aid package, its administration and use. Developing countries will be relieved of the pressure of having to control, maintain and operate costly equipment donated for infrastructural development under onerous conditions set by donors or Governments. Generally these conditions cannot be met by the recipient Government.

DEMCO’s landmine clearing equipment is dual purpose. i.e. it can also be used for infrastructural development simply by removing the landmine clearing attachments. Pressure on wealthy countries to alleviate poverty in developing countries is reaching a crescendo. The general disruptions, demonstrations and social unrest have to be avoided by the donor countries. Aid money and equipment has to be rapidly and efficiently spent so that tangible results can be seen in poor countries, particularly by the poorest of the poor. NGO’s and aid organizations have to have a basic infrastructure in place, e.g. useable gravel roads that are continually maintained. The local population will therefore also have access to markets, schools and hospitals. Lack of access to proposed development sites is one of the most critical obstacles that aid organizations must contend with. A poor road network hampers the delivery and operation of the whole relief package, apart from escalating the costs unnecessarily. DEMCO are not only able to provide a wide range of demining attachments, undertake demining contracts, but also manage the donor depots with skilled management and technical personnel, and see to the efficient running of the depots. Administration, maintenance, the repair of the equipment, training of operators and support staff, will be to the satisfaction of the donor organizations.

DONOR DEPOTS ARE A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO A DIFFICULT AND PRESSING PROBLEM ON HOW TO DELIVER AID EFFECTIVELY.