How to Prepare for Disasters: The Ministry of Emergency Situations to Apply EU Experience

The Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia, Felix Tsolakyan, received the head of the European Union's "Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-Made Disasters in Eastern Partnership Countries" (PPRD East - 3) project team, Peter Glerum, and expert George Karaseny on December 9.

This was reported by the Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia.

"The purpose of the meeting was to summarize and evaluate the results of the PPRD East-2 phase and discuss directions for further cooperation. Welcoming the guests, the Minister of Emergency Situations thanked them for the opportunity to discuss the preparatory works of the PPRD East-3 project, emphasizing the importance of the project and the significant work accomplished during previous phases.

During the second phase alone, 92 local and regional events were organized, with approximately 300 participants from Armenia, including the MOLDEX exercise. Inter-agency working groups were formed, and documentation was developed.

In his remarks, Felix Tsolakyan referred to the opportunities for expanding cooperation with the European Union in the field of emergency situations through the PPRD East-2 project, applying EU experience to enhance the protection of the population, increase resilience levels, and reduce disaster risks.

As a key mechanism for increasing community resilience, the Minister highlighted the formation of rescue volunteer forces and the assessment of disaster data loss, implementing EU practices.

New directions for the implementation of the PPRD East-3 project were discussed, including hydrogeological disaster management (landslides, mudflows, rockfalls, floods, droughts), risk assessment, planning of preventive measures, expert exchange, and the formation and development of the volunteer rescue movement.

Evaluating the already implemented measures within the framework of the program, both parties noted significant progress in developing the capacities of the host country's National Support System and in the process of mapping risk areas. They expressed their willingness to continue cooperation in improving public awareness mechanisms and in forming volunteer forces," the statement said.