Vitebsk rescuers will take part in tactical special exercises on the territory of Latvia
Vitebsk rescuers will take part in tactical special exercises in Latvia, as reported to a BELTA correspondent by the press secretary of the Vitebsk Regional Emergency Situations Department, Marina Fando.
The tactical special exercises are scheduled for late January - early February 2014, with the participation of employees of the Vitebsk Regional Emergency Situations Department, as well as their colleagues from Latvia and Lithuania. The event will be the practical phase of the implementation of the international project "Creation of a joint response system for accidents involving the spill of hazardous chemicals and oil into the Western Dvina (Daugava) River during the winter period".
The project has been implemented since 2012 with the aim of increasing combat readiness and promptness of response in case of chemical accidents at industrial facilities in the cross-border region of Belarus-Latvia-Lithuania and is a logical continuation of the previous similar project, implemented in the summer period from 2008 to 2009 with large-scale exercises in the Polotsk and Miory districts, noted Marina Fando.
"The possibility of emergencies with oil and petroleum product spills in winter is also very likely, but there is not enough experience in eliminating the consequences of such accidents, so it was decided to continue working in this direction," the press secretary emphasized. She also noted that as a result of the implementation of the measures, a regional mechanism for interaction between fire and rescue services in partner countries has been established, regional capabilities in responding to chemical accidents have been strengthened, and a mechanism for providing cross-border support to neighboring countries in case of an accident in the border area has been developed and tested.
The European Union's funding share for the Vitebsk Regional Emergency Situations Department in the project is planned at the level of 221 thousand euros.
In addition, the Vitebsk regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, together with the Lithuanian side, has currently submitted an application for a grant to create a response system for the elimination of fires and other emergencies in ecosystems, added Marina Fando. The share of EU funding for the Vitebsk regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for this project is planned at 140 thousand euros. An application for a grant to implement a joint project for the elimination of accidents and other emergencies on the transport routes of neighboring states has also been approved, with a funding share for the Belarusian side amounting to 230 thousand euros.
"The work carried out to participate in international projects of the European Union, including the implementation of the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus Cross-border Cooperation Programme, carried out within the framework of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument, allows the Vitebsk regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations to improve and develop its capabilities in the field of prevention and elimination of natural and man-made emergencies, protection of the population and territories from major accidents, natural disasters and elimination of their consequences at the international level in cooperation with the emergency rescue services of other neighboring states that are members of the EU," the press secretary concluded.