The Norwegian Red Cross will share with Belarusians its experience in operating rapid response teams for emergencies

Norwegian colleagues will share with the Vitebsk regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society their experience in organizing the work of rapid response volunteer teams for emergencies and providing first aid, the chairperson of the regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society, Galina Zhelanova, informed journalists today.

"Representatives of the Norwegian Red Cross visited Vitebsk in November 2015, and our return visit to Hedmark is planned for April 2016, where we will determine the work plan for this year. The key direction will be the training of our emergency response team," Galina Zhelanova said.

As reported by BELTA, the Vitebsk regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society and the regional branches of the national Red Cross societies of Hedmark (Norway) and Visaginas (Lithuania) signed a trilateral cooperation agreement in November 2015. Speaking generally about the work plans for the current year, the chairperson of the regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society emphasized that the work to improve the quality of life of vulnerable population categories will be strengthened in the region - new projects are planned to be implemented in cooperation with the Swiss Red Cross.

"In March, the districts of the region will begin to receive

food parcels for assistance - it is planned to provide support totaling about $120 thousand, - Galina Zhelanova said. - And from the end of February, a project to support homeless people will begin in Vitebsk, during which they will receive hot meals for three months at the temporary accommodation center on Gagarin Street. In total, in 2016, the regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society intends to implement 20 projects of various orientations, including in cooperation with foreign partners (in 2015, 18 projects were implemented). The XXV Reporting and Election Conference of the regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society was held in Vitebsk, summarizing the activities for 2011-2015 and plans for 2016 for the implementation of strategic areas of activity, as well as specific projects. In particular, issues of implementing the state social order in the field of providing medical and social services at home, developing volunteer movement, providing assistance to citizens of Ukraine, and participating in the implementation of international projects were considered.

Alena Tikhonova, BELTA.