CPO Guidebook

Developed by EU-funded Programme for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response
to Man-made and Natural Disasters in the ENPI East Region (PPRD East)
Civil Protection
and Disaster Management
CIVIL PROTECTION
OPERATIONAL
GUIDEBOOK
EU funded Programme
EU funded programme for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response to man-made and natural disasters
in the ENPI East Region (PPRD East)
PPRD East
CIVIL PROTECTION
OPERATIONAL
GUIDEBOOK
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union.
The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the PPRD East Team and can in no way be
taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
1.1. Preface…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
1.2. Overview and context………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
2. RATIONALE OF THE GUIDEBOOK AND METHODOLOGY…………………………………………… 6
2.1. Why a Guidebook…………………………………………………………………………………………..
6
2.2. Methodology………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6
3. PPRD EAST REGION AND PARTNER COUNTRIES…………………………………………………… 8
3.1. Regional characteristics – types of risks……………………………………………………………. 8
3.2. Disasters in Partner Countries and trans-boundary disasters – Risks types’ overview………….
11
4. PARTNER COUNTRIES’ PROFILES……………………………………………………………………… 18
4.1. ARMENIA…………………………………………………………………………………………………
18
4.2. AZERBAIJAN……………………………………………………………………………………………29
4.3. BELARUS………………………………………………………………………………………………..41
4.4. GEORGIA……………………………………………………………………………………………….51
4.5. MOLDOVA…………………………………………………………………………………………… 66
4.6. UKRAINE………………………………………………………………………………………………..78
5. OVERVIEW OF THE UNION CIVIL PROTECTION MECHANISM (UCPM)………………………………
93
5.1. Current status in civil protection area……………………………………………………………… 93
5.2. Participating states in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism………………………………….. 95
5.3. Rationale of cooperation – Why cooperate……………………………………………………………..
95
5.4. Union Civil Protection Mechanism tools………………………………………………………….. 96
5.5. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)………………………………………. 103
5.5.1. Background………………………………………………………………………………….. 103
5.5.2. Why a need for ERCC………………………………………………………………………….
103
5.5.3. The roles of ERCC……………………………………………………………………………104
5.5.4. Added value of the ERCC…………………………………………………………………. 104
5.5.5. Contact……………………………………………………………………………………….. 104
6. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACHRONYMS……………………………………………………………………..
105
7. ANNEX……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 111
7.1. Request for Assistance Message……………………………………………………………….. 111
7.2. Press Pack – European Civil Protection (January 2014)……………………………………… 113
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http://euroeastcp.eu/en/
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Preface
The Civil Protection Operational Guidebook was developed under the EU Programme
on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to man-made and natural Disasters in the
ENPI East Region (PPRD East) that is an Eastern Partnership Flagship Initiative.
THE PROGRAMME IS FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
Budget: 6 million EUR
Programme life span: 2010–2014
PROGRAMME PROFILE
Overall objective:
To contribute to the peace, stability, security and prosperity of the Eastern Partner
Countries and to protect the environment, the population, the cultural heritage, the
resources and the infrastructures of the region by strengthening the Partner Countries’
resilience, prevention, preparedness and response to man-made and disasters caused by
natural hazards.
Purpose:
 To contribute to the development of the Partner Countries' civil protection
capacities for disaster prevention, preparedness and response through regional
cooperation.
 To bring the Partner Countries progressively closer to the EU Civil Protection
Mechanism and improve their bilateral and regional cooperation.
Key partners:
Civil Protection/Disaster Management authorities of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Moldova and Ukraine
Other stakeholders:
State institutions involved in civil protection and disaster management, national and
international NGOs, mass media, academic community, wide public.
MAIN RESULTS expected to be accomplished:
 Better knowledge of risk exposure and available resources

 Electronic Regional Risk Atlas installed and running in all 6 Partner Countries and at
the regional level
 Civil Protection Operational Guidebook and Study on the provision of international
assistance &HNS developed
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 Increased theoretical and practical knowledge on Civil Protection Mechanism, Flood

Directive, SEVESO Directives
 Practical skills enhanced through Table Top Exercises
 Recommendations on how to enhance legislative and institutional civil protection
frameworks developed and accepted
 Partner Countries included in the “Improving the Safety of Tailing Management
Facilities” Project
 Increased DRR knowledge and awareness of journalists, CP/DM stakeholders and
general public
The Phase II of the PPRD East Programme will depend on progress of the partner
countries in the implementation of the present Phase I of the Flagship Initiative and
identified further needs. The scope and the scale of the technical assistance and the design
of the Phase II will be identified by the end of the Phase I supported by the
recommendations of the programme external evaluation.
1.2. Overview and context

The European Commission introduced, in 2003, the new European Neighborhood Policy
(ENP), for all its neighbors to the east and the south. The overall objective of this Policy is
to bring neighboring countries closer to the EU policies and practices. In support of the
ENP, as part of the reform of EC assistance instruments, the EU decided to replace,
starting from January 1, 2007, the geographical programmes - TACIS (for Eastern
neighbors and Russia) and MEDA (for Southern Mediterranean neighbors) – and various
thematic programmes with a single European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument
(ENPI). ENPI is designed to target sustainable development, progressive economic
integration between the EU and its neighboring countries and their approximation to the EU
policies and standards.
The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is the first comprehensive initiative introduced into the
system of the European Union’s external relations, addressed to Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The Eastern Partnership is designed to help the
countries of Eastern Europe and South Caucasus with their approximation to and
integration with the European Union. The initiative was officially launched at the first
Eastern Partnership summit in Prague on May 7 2009, which adopted a Joint Declaration.
The PPRD East Programme is the Eastern Partnership Flagship Initiative for the
Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-Made Disasters 2010-2014.
The EU-funded Programme key partners are the civil protection (CP) and disaster
management (DM) authorities of the Partner Countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
The purpose of the Programme is to contribute to the development of the Partner Countries
CP capacities for disaster prevention, preparedness and response through regional
cooperation and to bring them, progressively, closer to the EU CP Mechanism and improve
cooperation among themselves.
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The PPRD East Programme is focusing on man-made and disasters caused by natural
hazards with special emphasis on the ones identified as priorities in the region and notably:
seismic risks, hydro-geological risks such as floods/flash floods/droughts, landslides, forest
and ground fires, urban/industrial risk of disasters (e.g. explosions, fires, chemical accidents
or toxic gas leakage, obsolete pesticides), road accidents, etc. and risk of disasters caused
by extreme meteorological conditions which may or may not be related to climate change.
The Programme aims to tackle these risks at the level of prevention, mitigation and
preparedness, and at the level of response management. It includes different areas of
actions: an improved knowledge base concerning the current state of play, strengthened
prevention, preparedness capacities and response from the administrative, operational and
legislative points of view, and wider information and awareness sharing.
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2. RATIONALE OF THE GUIDEBOOK AND METHODOLOGY
2.1. Why a Guidebook?

Civil protection is first and foremost a national responsibility and civil assets remain under
national control at all times. However, nowadays natural and man-made disasters, both
those affecting national territories and crossing borders, often require an international
response from various stakeholders around the world. An efficient international response
demands broad and trusting cooperation between all countries and various organisations
acting in disaster management.
The electronic Civil Protection Operational Guidebook comes to provide a working
instrument both for planners and relief personnel either from Partner Countries or from
various stakeholders around the world, which could respond when a natural or man-made
disaster strikes the Region. The Guidebook will be posted at and available at the Electronic
Regional Risk Atlas (ERRA).
The Guidebook is designed for a facile and rapid use when planning a disaster response
operation or during deployment, containing relevant and accurate information on Partner
Countries profiles, as well as on the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism as
potential partner of practical cooperation and source of good practices for the Region. It
covers both basic information, such as “Facts at your fingertips” and detailed technical ones
regarding the systems, organizational structures, points of contact, rules, legal provisions
and procedures in place in the Region.
Through its chapters referring to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the
Guidebook is intended to be also a link between the Region and the EU, as well as a
facilitator for Partner Countries in their work to develop and implement new instruments of
co-operation in disaster management area. To facilitate a common language between EU
and the relevant authorities from the Region countries in terms of disaster management,
two annexes presenting the details of an international assistance request and the European
Civil Protection Press Pack were added to the Guidebook.
2.2. Methodology:
The Guidebook is built on a uniform structure, the same headlines being used for all
Partner Countries. In this respect, a country profile structure was developed, including the
relevant topics for potential users of the Manual, especially those ones acting in the
operational area as responders to major emergencies or disasters.
The source of information presented in the Guidebook as “Facts at your fingertips” was
gathered from open sources and validated by national sources. The remaining headlines
were filled in with the information provided by the Partner Countries’ responsible authorities
in civil protection area. Also, information from the website of the DG ECHO and from the
technical reports produced under the Programme was used.
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The country profiles were sent to the National Program Coordinators (NPCs) in order to
facilitate the data collection from the civil protection authorities as well as for validation of
data gathered from open sources. The deadline for data and validations sending was the
second half of March. However, until the end of April 2014, only Ukraine provided the
country profile completed and Georgia provided some partial answers. Even if the deadline
was extended again, till the end of May, only few of the PPRD East national coordinators
provided answers and clarifications (Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine) or slightly different
country profiles – as the only data validated by them for introduction in the Guidebook
(Georgia’s case). Under those circumstances and considering the deadlines in the project,
all national coordinators were kept as responders, validating the data introduced in the
document.
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3. PPRD East REGION and PARTNER COUNTRIES
3.1. Regional characteristics – types of risks
Using the EM DAT General Classification of Disasters, a general overview of the main types
of events that PPRD East Partner Countries are facing with is presented in the table below:
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Natural Man-made
Chernobyl Nuclear Plant accident /

gas leakage, obsolete pesticides)
Hydrological: Flood, flash flood,
Mass Movement (wet)- mudflow/
(dry)-landslide, snow avalanche.
frost and hail, Drought, Wildfire

Temperature (heat/cold wave),
Urban/industrial: (explosions,
fires, chemical accidents, toxic
Meteorological: Storm, snow
infestation, Animal Stampede

Biological: Epidemic, Insect
Geophysical: Earthquake,
Volcano, Mass Movement
Climatological: Extreme
Radiological: from1986
other nuclear facilities

storm, strong winds
landslide
ARMENIA x x x x N/A x x
AZERBAIJAN x x x x N/A x
BELARUS x x x x N/A x
GEORGIA x x x N/A
MOLDOVA x x x x N/A x x
UKRAINE x x x N/A x x
As for reference, the following EM-DAT database definitions were used in the region
disaster risk analysis:
Geophysical disasters (Events originating from solid earth)

Earthquake - Shaking and displacement of ground due to seismic waves. This is the
earthquake itself WITHOUT secondary effects. An earthquake is the result of a sudden
release of stored energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. They can be of
tectonic or volcanic origin. At the Earth's surface they are felt as a shaking or displacement
of the ground. The energy released in the hypocenter can be measured in different
frequency ranges. Therefore there are different scales for measuring the magnitude of a
quake according to a certain frequency range. Those are: a) surface wave magnitude (Ms);
b) body wave magnitude (Mb); c) local magnitude (ML); moment magnitude.
Volcano - (Volcanic eruption) All volcanic activity like rock fall, ash fall, lava streams, gases
etc. Volcanic activity describes both the transport of magma and/or gases to the Earth's
surface, which can be accompanied by tremors and eruptions, and the interaction of
magma and water (e.g. groundwater, crater lakes) underneath the Earth's surface, which
can result in phreatic eruptions. Depending on the composition of the magma eruptions can
be explosive and effusive and result in variations of rock fall, ash fall, lava streams,
pyroclastic flows, emission of gases etc.
Landslide - Any kind of moderate to rapid soil movement incl. lahar, mudslide, debris flow.
A landslide is the movement of soil or rock controlled by gravity and the speed of the
movement usually ranges between slow and rapid, but not very slow. It can be superficial or
deep, but the materials have to make up a mass that is a portion of the slope or the slope
itself. The movement has to be downward and outward with a free face.
(dry landslide) Rockfall - Quantities of rock or stone falling freely from a cliff face. Rockfall
refers to quantities of rock or stone falling freely from a cliff face. It is caused by
undercutting, weathering or permafrost degradation.
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Avalanche - describes a quantity of snow or ice that slides down a mountainside under the
force of gravity. It occurs if the load on the upper snow layers exceeds the bonding forces of
the entire mass of snow. It often gathers material that is underneath the snowpack like soil,
rock etc (debris avalanche). Any other kind of rapid snow/ice movement.
Meteorological disasters (Events caused by short-lived/small to mesoscale atmospheric
processes-in the spectrum from minutes to days).
Storms - a severe storm or thunderstorm is the result of convection and condensation in
the lower atmosphere and the accompanying formation of a cumulonimbus cloud. A severe
storm is usually associated with high winds, heavy precipitation (rain, sleet, and hail),
thunder and lightning.
Snow storms - Damage caused by snow and ice. Winter damage refers to damage to
buildings, infrastructure, traffic (esp. navigation) inflicted by snow and ice in form of snow
pressure, freezing rain, frozen waterways etc.
Snowstorm - A snowstorm refers to a storm, usually in the winter season, where large
amounts of snow fall. If it's a severe snowstorm that meets certain criteria, such as strong
winds, blowing snow and low or falling temperatures, it's called blizzard.
Hydrological Disasters (Events caused by deviations in the normal water cycle and/or
overflow of bodies of water caused by wind set-up)
Flood - Significant rise of water level in a stream, lake, reservoir or coastal region
General flood - Gradually rising inland floods (rivers, lakes, groundwater) due to high total
depth of rainfall or snowmelt. A general flood is caused when a body of water (river, lake)
overflows its normal confines due to rising water levels. The term general flood additionally
comprises the accumulation of water on the surface due to long-lasting rainfall (water
logging) and the rise of the groundwater table above surface. Furthermore, inundation by
melting snow and ice, backwater effects, and special causes such as the outburst of a
glacial lake or the breaching of a dam are subsumed under the term general flood. General
floods can be expected at certain locations (e.g. along rivers) with a significantly higher
probability than at others.
Flash flood - Rapid inland floods due to intense rainfall A flash flood describes sudden
flooding with short duration. In sloped terrain the water flows rapidly with a high destruction
potential. In flat terrain the rainwater cannot infiltrate into the ground or run off (due to small
slope) as quickly as it falls. Flash floods typically are associated with thunderstorms. A flash
flood can occur at virtually any place.
Climatologically Disasters (Events caused by long-lived/meso to macro scale processes-
in the spectrum from intra-seasonal to multi-decadal climate variability)
Extreme winter conditions - (winter storm) Damage caused by snow and ice. Winter
damage refers to damage to buildings, infrastructure, traffic (esp. navigation) inflicted by
snow and ice in form of snow pressure, freezing rain, frozen waterways etc.
Heat wave - A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot and sometimes also
humid weather relative to normal climate patterns of a certain region. Heat waves like in
Central Europe 2003
Cold wave - A cold wave can be both a prolonged period of excessively cold weather and
the sudden invasion of very cold air over a large area. Along with frost it can cause damage
to agriculture, infrastructure, and property. Damage caused by low temperatures.
Drought - Long lasting event; triggered by lack of precipitation. A drought is an extended
period of time characterized by a deficiency in a region's water supply that is the result of
constantly below average precipitation. A drought can lead to losses to agriculture, affect
inland navigation and hydropower plants, and cause a lack of drinking water and famine.
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Wildfire - describes an uncontrolled burning fire, usually in wild lands, which can cause
damage to forestry, agriculture, infrastructure and buildings; fire in forested / bush areas.
Biological Disasters (caused by the exposure of living organisms, to germs and toxic
substances)
Epidemic - an unusual increase in the number of cases of an infectious disease, which
already exists in the region or population concerned; or the appearance of an infection
previously absent from a region.
Insect infestation - Pervasive influx and development of insects or parasites affecting
humans, animals, crops and materials.
Industrial accident – term used in EM-DAT to describe technological accidents of an
industrial nature/involving industrial buildings (e.g. factories).
Urban fire – fire involving buildings or structures. Industrial structures can either be
involved.
Explosions – explosions involving buildings or structures. Industrial structures can either
be involved.
Chemical spill - Accident release occurring during the production, transportation or
handling of hazardous chemical substances.
Poisoning - Poisoning of atmosphere or water courses due to industrial source. Obsolete
pesticides use could be the cause.
Miscellaneous accident - term used in EM-DAT to describe technological accidents of a
non-industrial or transport nature (e.g. houses).
3.2. Disasters in Partner Countries and trans-boundaries disasters - Risk types

Overview
Armenia
Armenia is vulnerable to floods, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, mudslides,
strong wind, snow storms, frost and hail, as well as to disaster caused by
technological hazards.
During 1997 – 2008, floods accounted for the major share of disaster events, followed by
earthquake and drought. There were also 5 technological related hazards reported in the
period 1992 - 1998.
However, the most devastating earthquake occurred in Armenia in 1988, causing 25,000
deaths, 15,000 injured, leaving 517,000 people homeless and prompting the evacuation of
almost 200,000 people. Direct economic losses were estimated at 14.2 billion US dollars.
On another hand, man-made hazards are various.
High seismic activity, mountainous relief and abrupt continental climate of the territory of
Armenia pre-envisaged the types of natural hazards – strong earthquakes, landslides,
collapses, floods, mudflow etc.
The territory of the Republic is totally seismic hazardous (is located on seismic zone with
the intensity of 8-11 by MSK-64 scale and is permanently subject to the devastating effects
of earthquakes). It is characterized by natural hazardous phenomena and processes such
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as landslides, stone falls, floods, mudflows, inundation, freezing, strong winds and lightning,
drought, abundance of heavy rains and hail seriously affecting the economy of the republic,
residences, transport communication ways, environment of territories, threaten the life and
health of human beings.
Districts prone to the mentioned disaster mainly lie within the borders of the populated area
or the adjacent territories and make the considerable part of the territory of Armenia –
almost 45%.
The natural disasters bring to human losses and annual damage caused to the population
of the republic and its social-economical system is about of 10-12 billion AMD.
Despite a number of undertaken measures and works carried out, there still remain various
sources of natural disasters in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, which are potential
threats for the population, the objects of the social-economical system and which force to
fulfill primary measures.
The existing tendency for the increase of natural disasters in the republic is conditioned by
the following factors:
- by the active influence of the human activity on the environment,
- by the location and exploitation of industrial, economical and inhabited objects in the
potentially dangerous areas,
- by the absence of modern monitoring of natural hazards,
- by the insufficient technical conditions of anti-landslide, anti-mudslide and other hydro-
technical constructions,
Volcanoes
- There are more than 500 extinct volcanoes in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.
Landslides
Landslides are wide spread in the mountainous and foothill regions, almost in every marz
(except the Ararat valley):
- more than 2.5 thousand landslide districts are revealed in the territory of Armenia
- the overall surface of landslide districts is almost 122sq.km, which is 4.1% of the overall
surface of the republic
- of the almost 960 communities of the republic, 233 are affected with landslides: in more
than 100 dwelling areas there is observed considerable activation of landslides because of
which hundreds of residences, connection lines and other life provision objects are
damaged
- 240 km (3.2%) from the 7400 km road net is damaged by 280 land-slide
- 4.8 (0.5%) of the 870km railway net is damaged by 10 land-slides and so on.
According to the inventory data of the landslide districts, the direct damage done by the
landslide phenomena to the social-economical constructions of the republic is almost 43
million USD, and the potential damage is almost 54 million USD (4.0-4.5 billion AMD). The
very important research on the landslide hazard assessment, mapping and design of
measures for risk reduction was implemented by JICA team in Armenia.
In order to prevent landslide phenomena and to liquidate its sequences in the territory of the
republic, a number of programs and projects are planned, which, however, because of
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insufficiency of financial means and non-professional building organizations and programs,

remain unfinished and did not serve to their aim.
This year in the territory of the biggest natural preserve of Armenia, there has been a large
scale landslide, which caused a big material and especially ecological damage.
Stone falls
In the recent they are widely spread and cover more than 16.683 hectare surface. They are
a serious threat for the population and territories and do tangible harms to the territorial
subdivisions.
Flood and mudflow
More than 30% of the territory of Armenia are flood prone areas and the annual damage to
the population and its social-economical system is up to 2.0 billion AMD.
Spring flooding and inundations in the territory of Armenia begin from the second half of
March and continue until June, sometimes until July. The average duration of inundations is
80-120 days, the maximum 150 days, the minimum 60 days.
In the territory of the Republic on average annual calculations from 6.859 mln.m3 58% of
water flows in spring.
There is also a radiation hazard originating from the nuclear plant at Metsamor. But
also IAEA assessments showed that Armenian nuclear power plant is enough safe. It
is highly earthquake resistant and located on non seismic active zone (there are no
active faults).
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is vulnerable to floods, earthquakes, mudflows, avalanches, drought and
landslides, as well as to disasters caused by technological hazards. The capital city of
Baku suffered from a destructive landslide and a major earthquake, measuring 6 on the
Richter scale, both in the year 2000. During the first years of the XXI century, floods
accounted for the major share of disasters, followed by earthquakes. There were also 11
disasters related to technology hazards reported in the period 1992 – 2007, transport
accidents being the major ones.
A recent analysis conducted of statistical data shows that in the territory of Azerbaijan, the
frequency and intensity of natural disasters is increasing.
The effects of natural disasters, which usually have a long and complex character, notably
affects various spheres of life, cause considerable damage to infrastructure,
communication facilities and of course the loss of human life.
Azerbaijan has territories in which the drop-down spring and summer rains combined with
the snow melt caused by heavy snow melting in the mountains results in flash floods and
mudslides. The most susceptible to these phenomena are the basins of the southern and
north-eastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, the Lateral Ridge, and the south-west and
north-eastern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus. Since the 1980’s, Azerbaijan began to
observe changes in its meteorological conditions. Sudden intense rainfall over several days
in the foothills and valleys caused significant flooding. In the summer of 2010, there were
several weeks of intense flooding in various central parts of the country.
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The long-range forecasts show that the increasing changes in climate will significantly
influence mudflow activities in the mountainous areas of Azerbaijan. Acceleration of
the hydrological cycle causing abundant precipitation, changes in the vertical border of the
vegetation cover spread, mountainside degradation, erosion development, and
deterioration of the soil drainage degree set conditions for the formation of disastrous floods
and mudflow streams.
In addition, significant decreases in minimum temperatures have led to the destruction
of sub-tropical cultures.
Moreover, more frequent hail storms have caused significant damage to agriculture; with
the size of some hail fragments reaching 5-9 cm in diameter. Hail storms are mostly
observed in the regions of the Minor Caucasus and southern slopes of the Greater
Caucasus as well.
Furthermore, the topography peculiarities set conditions for the strengthening of
predominantly western wind alongside the Kura River and western coast of the Caspian
Sea, and eastern winds at the territory of Nakhchivan as well. As per the results of the
conducted analysis, during the last decade there was a tendency towards
increasingly strong winds of more than 25 m/sec. For the last 3 years, heavy cloudbursts
coupled with strong winds during the spring period have caused lodging on sowings of the
winter grain crops and complicated conditions regarding the farming of flowering fruits and
grapes.
Another hazard is the threat of avalanche observed in the mountainous regions of the
Minor and Greater Caucasus and Nakhchivan Region.
As well, fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea must be studied. About 485 sq. km
of the coastal strip of Azerbaijan was inundated with water with the sea level increase that
happened within the period 1978-1995 (2.5 meter increase). The combined damage to the
economy has been estimated to be nearly 2 billion US Dollars. The results of modern
research indicate that climate change will continue to have a profound effect on The
Caspian Sea basin.
Belarus
Territory of Belarus is prone to a variety of natural hazards, like floods, droughts,
wild fires, earthquakes, strong winds and landslides.
Besides the natural disasters, a special chapter in the history of Belarus is the accident that
occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Ukraine) on April 26, 1986, resulting in
wide-ranging irreparable damage to the human population in a number of regions within the
borders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
The Republic of Belarus sustained the worst blow from the accident, bearing the heaviest
burden of the effects emanating from the radiation disaster. Approximately 70% of the
nuclear radiation fallout that was hurled into the atmosphere landed inside the territory of
Belarus. Of its total population of slightly less than 10 million people, some 2.3 million were
directly affected, while these days more than 1.6 million people continue to live inside the
contaminated areas, including 419,400 children.
The accident imposed a heavy burden on the national budget through the cost of clean-up,
compensation, and recovery. The UN and other agencies have aimed to reduce the level of
radiation in affected areas, especially through the use of cesium binders and rapeseed
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cultivation, which are meant to decrease soil levels of cesium-137. While the physical
processes are gradually reducing the level of radioactive contamination in the environment,
people in the affected areas are facing its consequences and a legacy of depressed
economic development.
Georgia
Georgia as a country has a specific geographic location such that it is prone to large
scale natural disasters. The mountainous terrain and large changes in elevation within
Georgia create numerous high risk circumstances for natural disasters.
Among the various natural disaster threats in Georgia, flooding is the most frequent
within the country. Flooding and eddy convection are characteristics of almost all rivers in
the country, especially the high-risk river basins in the Mtskheta-mtianeti, Imereti, Samegrlo
and Guria regions. Accordingly with long term observations, flooding occurred in Georgia 5-
6 times annually before 1995. Two specific examples of flooding occurred in the Kura river
basin in 1960 and in 1987 in the Rioni River basin, with total damages exceeding 400
Million USD to accompany the loss of human life.
Due to climate change and the faster melt of the snow that covers the mountains in the
region, flooding will continue to be a risk for almost all river basins in Georgia. It is obvious
that an increase in such events could result in the flooding of hundreds of square
kilometers, with the heavy damage to rural, agriculture pasture lands and rural
infrastructure.
Landslide as a type of natural disaster is one of the most acute problems in Georgia.
More than 1,5 million ha of land are in high risk regions, representing 22% of the country’s
territory. Currently, 53,000 districts are at risk of the landslip dynamics process. It is
estimated that 70% of landslide spots are occupied by rural populations. During last 40
years, dozens of villages have been abandoned due to landslides. The effects of climate
change coupled with frequent earthquakes and intensified anthropological factors are
working to increase the number of landslides with heavy consequences in Racha-
lechkhumi, Adjara, Upper Imereti and the pre –mountain parts of Samegrelo.
Georgia is also susceptible to mudflows, with an increasing scale of heterogenic
developments. The frequently repeated nature of this threat is considered to be one of the
most complicated issues in the ENPI East region. Mudflow as a phenomenon is a
characteristic of all of the mountain landscapes and morphological zones of Georgia
starting from the piedmonts to the Alpine zones. More than 3,000 spots in various mountain
river basins are prone to mudflow disasters (the total area represents 2 million ha). High
risk mudflow zones encapsulate hundreds of populated places including: Tbilisi, Kvareli,
Telavi, Sagarejo, Lagodekhi, Tsageri, Borjomi, Mestia, Lentekhi, Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, and
Mtsketa. Due to mudflows in these cities, more than 1,500 km of vehicle roads, 300 km of
railway, oil pipelines and irrigation systems are under risk. The average annual material
damages amounts to roughly 120 million GEL (54.5 million Euro).
In addition, water erosion processes seriously damage the ecosystems of Georgia and
have a significant negative influence on the economy. In Georgia, more than 170,000 ha of
land are suffering from erosion. The usage of one ha of arable land causes the erosion of
150- 200 tons of soil, and during periods of high precipitation this figure rises to 3,000-
5,000. Bank wash-up represents one of the most acute problems since more than 150 ha of
land are exposed to this hazard.
15
During recent years, drought as a disaster risk has become a frequent problem. Drought-
related damages amounted to 40 million GEL for the years 1995-2008. The most common
scenario of drought disasters can be best illustrated by the drought that occurred in 2000,
when the disaster affected almost 50% of the country’s territory and continued 7 full
months. Normally, drought affects Georgia as a disaster once in a 15-25 year period, but at
the present time, this interval has seemingly been reduced to 5-8 years.
More than 50% of the country’s territory is located under snow slide risk zones. At present,
5,000 snow slide spots have been identified, and threaten more than 200 populated
territories. Observations over the last 40 years have shown that snow slides simultaneously
affect various regions in the country once every 7-8 years.
The entire Caucasus region is susceptible to various seismological events. Georgia is
prone to earthquakes as strong as 8-9 on the Richter scale. Georgia has experienced
strong earthquakes in: 1988 with the epicenter in Spitaki, 1991- Racha Imereti, 1992 –
Pasanauri, 2002-Tbilisi, 2009-Oni Region.
Republic of Moldova
Moldova is vulnerable to floods, windstorms, droughts, extreme temperatures,
landslides and seismic events. There are no relevant technological-related hazards
recorded, but there are a number of man-made hazards that pose further risks in Moldova,
including potential industrial accidents, pollution and nuclear contamination from
neighboring countries. In 1983 a dam containing a tailings pond burst at the Stebnik
potassium plant releasing a large amount of salt solution into the Dniester River near
Nikolaev. This took nearly two years to return to normal conditions.
A severe earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck Chisinau in 1940. The USGS has reported a
recent earthquake of magnitude 2.9 in the Ukraine-Romania-Moldova Border Region on
February 15, 2005. Historical records of earthquakes, along with the country’s location
within the seismic zone of Vrancea zone, suggest that the country is vulnerable to
earthquake as well as to hydro-meteorological hazards.
In 2008, disastrous floods caused by heavy rains occurred in Moldova resulting in heavy
damage to the households and infrastructure adjacent to the Prut and Dniester Rivers. In
2010, floods occurred again, causing 2 deaths and heavy damage to the households and
infrastructure mainly on the left bank of the Prut River. Vast agricultural areas serving as
income source for hundreds of people are still under the water. In both cases Moldova has
asked for and received international assistance (relief items and pumping capacities)
through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and from several EU countries.
Ukraine
Ukraine is vulnerable to floods, extreme temperatures and wind storms, and to
disasters caused by technological hazards, such as the 2006 oil spill in The Kerch Gulf.
Ukraine requested international expertise, and a joint mission from UNEP/OCHA and EU
Civil Protection Mechanism was deployed to assess the situation and give their
recommendations to the Government.
In 2008, disastrous floods caused by heavy rains occurred in Western Ukraine resulting in
heavy damage to the households and infrastructure adjacent to the Prut River. Ukraine
16
asked for and received international assistance (relief items) through the EU Civil Protection
Mechanism and from several EU countries.
In 2010, a joint mission from UNEP/OCHA and The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was
deployed to the city of Kalush (Ivano-Frankivsk oblast), where there was the danger of the
potential collapse of a tailing dam containing a large amount of hazardous industrial wastes
from the cropping and reprocessing of potassium ore. A wide range of expertise was
offered, resulting in a number of short, mid and long-term recommendations.
In addition to these disasters, Ukraine is also known as the origin of the Chernobyl
Accident. The state and the economy are still feeling the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear
disaster. 35,000 sq.km of forest alone were contaminated by the accident. This was 40% of
the country's forested area. According to information from the Ukrainian government
agency Chernobyl Interinform, government spending on alleviating the effects of the
accident has been USD 6.5 billion since 1991. Currently, 5-7 per cent of the national budget
is consumed by dealing with the consequences. By 2015, Ukrainian experts estimate that
the disaster will have cost the economy a total of USD 201 billion.
17
4. PARTNER COUNTRIES’ PROFILES
4.1. REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
Basic country information validated on 08/05/2014 by

Mr. Hovhannes Yemishyan, Head of Department on Population Protection and Organization of Elimination of
Disaster Consequences, Ministry of Emergency Situations
FLAG:
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange; the color red
recalls the bloodshed for liberty, blue the Armenian skies as well as hope, and orange
the land and the courage of the workers who farm it.
BASIC COUNTRY INFORMATION:

Facts at your fingertips:
Head of state: President Serzh SARGSIAN (since 9 April 2008)
Head of government: Prime Minister Hovik ABRAHAMYAN (since 13 April 2014)
Capital: Yerevan
Population: 2,974,184 (July 2013 est.)
Area: 29,743 sq km; (land: 28,203 sq km, water: 1,540 sq km)
GDP/capita (PPP): US$ 5,600 (2012 est.)
Membership of ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
international IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
organizations: IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Ethnic groups: Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)
Religions: Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of
nature worship) 1.3%
Climate: Highland continental; hot summers; cold winters
Location: Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan
Land boundaries: In total: 1,254 km; Bordering countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-
Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in
Aras River valley, landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake
Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range
Land use: Arable land: 16.78%, permanent crops: 2.01%, other: 81.21% (2005)
Natural hazards: Occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Environment: Landslides are wide spread in the mountainous and foothill regions, almost in every
marz.
Speaking about the dissemination and influence spheres of landslides, it is enough to
enumerate some data that are especially the results of the latest observations:
- more than 2.5 thousand landslide districts are revealed in the territory of Armenia
- the overall surface of landslide districts is almost 122sq.km, which is 4.1% of the
overall surface of the republic
- of the almost 960 communities of the republic, 233 are affected with landslides: in
18
more than 100 dwelling areas there is observed considerable activation of landslides
because of which hundreds of residences, connection lines and other life provision
objects are damaged
- 240 km (3.2%) from the 7400 km road net is damaged by 280 land-slide
- 4.8 (0.5%) of the 870km railway net is damaged by 10 land-slides and so on.
National economy: Since the Soviet era, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture. The economy
began to recover in 2010 with 2.1% growth, and picked up to 4.6% growth in 2011,
before slowing to 3.8% in 2012. Since August 2011, Armenia experienced a sharp 15
percent currency depreciation and an increase in the unemployment rate. Armenia's
geographic isolation, a narrow export base, and pervasive monopolies in important
business sectors have made it particularly vulnerable to the sharp deterioration in the
global economy and the economic downturn in Russia. Armenia has only two open
trade borders - Iran and Georgia - because its borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey
have been closed since 1991 and 1993, respectively, as a result of Nagorno-
Karabakh ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan. Armenia is particularly dependent on
Russian commercial and governmental support and most key Armenian infrastructure
is Russian-owned and/or managed, especially in the energy sector. Natural gas is
primarily imported from Russia but construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas
from Iran to Armenia was completed in December 2008, and gas deliveries expanded
after the April 2010 completion of the Yerevan Thermal Power Plant. The government
made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti-
corruption measures have been ineffective and the economic downturn has led to a
sharp drop in tax revenue and forced the government to accept large loan packages
from Russia, the IMF, and other international financial institutions. Amendments to tax
legislation, including the introduction of the first ever "luxury tax" in 2011, aim to
increase the ratio of budget revenues to GDP, which still remains at low levels.
Armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms and to strengthen the rule of
law in order to regain economic growth and improve economic competitiveness and
employment opportunities, especially given its economic isolation from two of its
nearest neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan. In 2009, senior Armenian leaders began
pursuing rapprochement with Turkey, aiming to secure an opening of the border, but
Turkey has not yet ratified the Protocols normalizing relations between the two
countries.
(Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/am.html)
FORM OF GOVERNMENT:
System description: Armenia is a republic with a parliamentary system. President is elected by popular
vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 February
2013 (next to be held February 2018). Executive power in the Republic of Armenia is
implemented by the Government of the Republic, which is composed of the prime
minister and other ministers. The President of the Republic appoints the prime
minister. The organization and rules of operation for the government are determined
by a decree from the President of the Republic upon the recommendation of the
prime minister. Legislative power in the Republic of Armenia is implemented by the
unicameral National Assembly (Parliament - 131 seats; members elected by popular
vote, 90 members elected by party list and 41 by direct vote; to serve five-year terms).
The government submits its program to the National Assembly for approval in
accordance with settled rules.
Administrative The administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Armenia are the provinces
divisions and (marzes) and the districts. Provinces include urban and rural districts. The provinces
structure: are governed by regional governments. The districts have local self-governments.
The government appoints the governors in the provinces, who implement the
government’s regional policy and coordinate the regional activities of the republican
executive bodies. The Republic of Armenia is divided into 10 provinces and the city of
Yerevan. The city of Yerevan has the status of a province. The Mayor of Yerevan is
appointed by the President of the Republic upon the recommendation of the prime
minister. Local self-governing bodies are elected.
19
(Source: International CEP Handbook 2009: Civil Emergency Planning in the NATO/EAPC Countries.
Available on the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s website, www.msbmyndigheten.se).
NATIONAL CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEM, MANDATE AND ORGANIZATION:

Legal framework: Civil protection activities and civil defense are regulated by a number of laws and
other pieces of legislation in the Republic of Armenia. Civil protection in the republic is
based on the following legislation:
 The Law on Civil Protection in Emergency Situations, adopted in December 1998,
 The Law on Fire Security, adopted in May 2001,
 The Law on Civil Defense, adopted in March 2002,
 The Law on Seismic Protection, adopted in July 2002,
 The Law on Rescue Forces and the Status of Rescuers, adopted in June 2004,
 The Law on the Armenian Rescue Service, adopted in August 2005.
 The Law on Local Self-Governance, adopted in May 2002
Besides the above mentioned legislation, civil protection activities in emergency
situations are regulated by decisions made by the Government of the Republic of
Armenia, the prime minister and the Head of the Armenian Rescue Service.
Civil protection/civil In emergencies, the Government implements the Civil Protection System. Ministries,
defense/civil department administrations, regional governments, supervising territorial
emergency planning: administrations, and local self-government bodies are all involved in the Civil
System overview, Protection System. In emergencies in the field of population protection the Ministry of
organization and Emergency Situations of the Government of the Republic of Armenia (MES – founded
structure in 2008) is the republican body of state governing and the Armenian Rescue Service
(ARS) is the state governmental body. The MES includes the following sub-divisions:
1. Armenian Rescue Service – state governing body;
2. State Reserve Agency – state non-commercial organization;
3. National Service of Seismic Protection – agency;
4. National Center of Technical Security – state non-commercial organization;
5. State Service of Hydrometeorology and Monitoring – state non-commercial
organization;
Both MES and ARS coordinate and supervise population protection activities in the
field of civil protection.
Civil protection/civil The MES is responsible for the current state of the country’s preparedness, and
defense/civil provides prospective development policy in the field of civil protection. The objectives
emergency planning of the MES are to:
objectives and tasks: - establish and implement governmental policy in the civil protection and population
protection fields;
- coordinate emergency response, rescue, and firefighting operations, and prioritized
and urgent infrastructure reconstruction activities,
- organize and implement governing activities in the fields of receiving and briefing of
information, decision-making aimed at resolving problems in the field of civil
protection and population protection in the event of emergencies;
- implement activities requiring special allowance and supervision in established
legislation within the framework of the ministry;
- develop the state regulating police for population evacuation activities in the event
of emergencies and in the civil protection field, as well as coordinate activities
directed to its implementation;
- earmark and provide state storage reserves;
- Implement activities directed to seismic risk reduction;
- ensure the implementation of forecasting, studying, and special observations of
hydro-meteorological phenomena;
- ensure the maintenance of the technical security center based on international
experience and scientific-technical progress and achievements;
- coordinate activities for emergency humanitarian response;
- coordinate activities of state governing and local self-governing bodies,
20
organizations in the field of civil protection and population protection as well as the
activities of forces implementing international rescue activities in the territory of the
Republic of Armenia;
- coordinate the organization of the population training process in the field of civil
protection and population protection during emergencies;
- organize and ensure the awareness of state bodies and the population regarding
civil protection and population protection issues;
Civil protection/civil Each ministry or department involved in the system of civil protection, implements the
defense/civil civil protection policy in its own field. The corresponding subdivisions of emergency
emergency planning and civil protection implement the policy in their ministries and departmental
organizational administrations. Each territorial body involved in the system of civil protection
structure: implements the territorial policy of civil protection from disasters. Emergency
management and civil protection subdivisions work in all provinces and in the city of
Yerevan which has the statue of province. These bodies are subject to the ARS of the
MES to implement the policy. In the event of emergencies the coordination and con-
trol of functional and territorial subdivision activities is implemented by the ARS of the
MES.
There are three main types of rescue services in the system for civil protection in
emergencies: governmental, department administrational and public (volunteer).
Governmental rescue services are considered subdivisions of the ARS of the MES. In
the event of disaster, the activities of governmental, department administrational and
public services are directly governed by the ARS of the MES.
The organization of civil training in the event of disasters and the control of training
activities are implemented by the Crisis Management Academy within the structure of
the ARS. The Academy provides training for specialists in crisis management, rescue
operations, fire protection, civil defense, emergency security operations, operation
and servicing of transport, special fire-fighting and rescue machinery
International co-operation related to disasters is implemented by the MES and the
ARS.
Among the separate divisions and state agencies, the Armenian Rescue Service
(ARS) is a state body that carries out prevention, reduction and liquidation of possible
consequences of emergency situations, functions of civil defence, protection of
population and economic objects (territories) in emergency situations and martial law
(at war) as well as rescue, accident-rescue, urgent accident-reconstruction, fire
fighting and other activities. Altogether 3700 persons work now in ARS. Since 2008
ARS is working under jurisdiction of the MoES. Recently some supportive functions
(legal, PR and international departments) were transferred to the MoES. A concept of
reorganization of the ARS aiming at more precise description of its functions and
responsibilities is being drafted and it should have been doen as of May 2013, at the
time of the drafting of the present document it is however not clear if such
reorganization has been implemented. Mainly it will leave to ARS the executive
functions, while legislation, political supervision and overall management will be the
MoES responsibility.
Civil-military Republic of Armenia declares and exercises principles of civilian control over military.
cooperation: The National Security Strategy, Military Doctrine and legislation related to the Ministry
of Defense (MOD) and military formations recognizes emergencies as the threat to
national security. Those documents oblige MOD to support civilian authorities in
emergencies.
The MES cooperates with military structures according to special plans. These plans
are mutually agreed upon and jointly accepted and include mutually agreed activities
for military structures in the field of civil protection. The training of skills in military
structures in the field of population protection during emergencies as well as any
necessary corrections to jointly accepted plans are implemented through training
exercises.
21
(Source: Arm strategic defence review, http://www.mil.am/1306158572 ; National Security Strategy of the
Republic of Armenia, http://www.mil.am/1297157753; The Military Doctrine of the Republic of Armenia,
http://www.mil.am/Est-tristique-auctor-mus-pulvinar-parturient-ac-arcu-et--sed-montes-turpis- )
External UNDP, UN OCHA, International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG),
stakeholders: NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), Civil Military
Emergency Preparedness Program (CMEP), BSEC, UNISDR, European Union,
World Bank, NATO Civil Emergency Planning Committee (CEPC), European Union
Monitoring and Information Centre (EU-MIC), and IFRC.
Internal stakeholders Private sector: All organizations is subject of Civil Protection System
Volunteers: Volunteers can be involved into activities related to elimination
consequences of emergencies
NGOs: N/A
(Source: The Law of the Republic of Armenia on Armenian Rescue Service , The Law of the Republic of
Armenia on Rescue Forces and Status of Rescuers , The Law of the Republic of Armenia on Population
Protection in Emergency Situations , The Law of the Republic of Armenia on Civil Defense , The Law of the
Republic of Armenia on Fire Security , The Law of the Republic of Armenia on Seismic Protection , The Law of
the Republic of Armenia on Protection , The Law of the Republic of Armenia Legal Regime of Martial Law )
Disaster Relief
22
Available Human and
Material Resources
Early warning and

Early warning centres are established but there is a lack of resources, technical
communication
means and computers. This lead to a low level of awareness, lack of capacity building
programs and lack of early warning systems in the community.
Early warning systems can be very effective in case of weather related risks but in a
case of seismic risks they are very far to be effective. Early warning system can
support the prevention of, preparedness for and timely response to manmade and
disasters caused by natural hazards, but they are only effective if they are able to
provide alert on time to implement CP prevention, mitigation and preparedness
activities and save people.
Communication systems are inadequate and the level of awareness for evacuation is
low. Procedures to exchange relevant information during hazard events and disasters
are in place, but exchange is difficult because of communication flow.
Early warning The system of the early warning and notifying of population is developed for
systems towards emergency situations. It is connected with the estimation of risk in case of devastating
professionals earthquakes (the natural phenomenon), as well as at environmental contamination at
failure on chemically dangerous objects and emission of radioactive substances in
atmosphere (technogenic process), and also at possible break of pressure head
hydraulic engineering constructions.
Early warning The centralized system of early warning of population does not functioning.
systems towards the
population
Public information Public information does exist. Their activity is depending on scale of emergency.
system
Operative Operative information is mainly flowing through communication systems of the
information Ministry of Emergency Situations
Emergency Numbers The 911 service for provision of urgent and coordinated help to people was put into
operation in 2012. (Within just one year the number of phone calls exceeded
23
1,300,000, which is more than the number of phone calls to all other operational
services combined.)
Other emergency numbers:
Fire 101
Police 102
Ambulance 103
Gas lines 104
Bilateral agreements
Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening cooperation in disaster
management and response between the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia
and the Ministry of Interior of Montenegro, signed in June 2011 (facilitated by UNDP
in Armenia)
Cooperation agreement in the sphere of industrial accidents, natural disaster
prevention and consequences elimination, concluded between RA Government and
Russian Federation Government on August 17, 1994.
Agreement on the control of dangerous and other waste trans boundary
transportation , concluded in Moscow on April 12, 1996
Cooperation agreement on the prevention and consequences elimination in case of
natural and man-made disaster and emergency situations was signed between the
Government of the Republic of Armenia and Government of Georgia on July 9, 1998.
A document on the assistance of disaster preparedness of national structure between
UN Armenian office of development project, USAID and Armenian Rescue Service of
the Ministry of Territorial Administration of the Republic of Armenia, signed, on April
10, 2003.
"Response" agreement with Swiss International Development Agency, signed on
March, 2005;
Multilateral
agreements, MOUs,
Protocols of
cooperation, etc.
Security agreement between RA Government and Euro-Atlantic Treaty Organization,
concluded in Brussels on January 13, 1995.
Cooperation agreement among Governments of the participant countries of Black Sea
Economic Cooperation on the prevention of natural and man-made disaster and
elimination of its consequences was signed in Sochi on April 15, 1998.
(Source: http://www.ema.am/index.php/en/international-cooperation.html )
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
National arrangements on how to receive and deliver international assistance
Legal framework applicable for incoming international assistance: Bilateral
agreements in force, provisions of international agreements / guidelines affecting host
nation support, such as: Tampere Convention, the 2006 Kyoto Convention on
customs procedures and the NATO MoU on vital cross-border transport. Major pieces
of applicable national legislation include: the Emergency Action Plan of governmental
organizations, the Government Decree No. 66-N of 2003 on the goods provided as
humanitarian aid and the Government Decree No. 919 of 10 June 2011 on the
population protection plan in case of a strong earthquake.
The receipt and delivery of humanitarian aid is performed in the following way:
1. The issues relevant to the provision of humanitarian aid from abroad are regulated
by the Ministry of foreign affairs of RA, by the Deputy Chair of the republican
Committee of emergency situations by the assignment of the minister of
emergency situations, basing on the recommendations of the ministers of economy
and healthcare.
2. Special groups receiving the humanitarian aid are formed and they are located on
border crossing points and airports.
3. The group which helps the Committee, consists of 25 persons, with a twenty-four-
hour working schedule. All the transportation means are provided by the
24
republican Committee of emergency situations, a special pass , sealed and signed
by the representative of the authorized body, is processed.
4. The load is accompanied by RA Police and the forces of the relevant structures of
the authorized bodies.
5. The humanitarian aid in the disaster zone is handed in a centralized way to the
humanitarian aid delivery groups, adjunct to the regional and municipal committees
of emergency situations, which are formed in marz administrations. These groups
are controlled by the head of the authorized body. According to special lists, these
committees deliver the aid to the population.
6. The international aid is registered by the authorized body.
The order of the arrival of rescue forces, performance of rescue operations and
organization of cooperation is the following:
a. During the rescue operations the cooperation is organized with the aim of
purposeful use of quick reaction forces in emergency situations and clarity of
interactions between these forces. Interactions are organized according to the
place and time.
b. The engagement of international forces is performed upon the request which is
submitted to the command staff of the arrived international forces by the RA
republican Committee of emergency situations. The establishment of the
international forces operations command staff as well as the establishment of
reception points on the border crossing points and in airports is performed by
international expert groups. If the expert groups have not yet arrived, these
operations are performed by the first arrived teams.
c. The operations of the international rescue groups are coordinated by the
international expert staff, which submits reports to the RA republican Committee of
emergency situations.
The direct management of international forces in working stations is performed by the
head of the working station.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are entitled
to request and receive international disaster relief assistance.
Regulations and other particular issues affecting the transport of international assistance
Road transport of relief / international teams:

Entry into the Specialized border crossing points (e.g. access only for trucks etc):
territory: 1) BAGRATASHEN check point – located North-East part of Armenia, Tavush
region;
2) BAVRA check point – located North-West part of Armenia, Tavush region;
3) GOGAVAN check point – located North-central part of Armenia
5) Meghri check point – located South part of Armenia
Hazardous goods and restricted equipments: N/A
Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): Documents of SAR dogs
shall be provided upon acceptance of the offer. All veterinary inspections are
then arranged to be carried out at border crossing points.
Providing Visa at the border crossing point for relief personnel: Police provides to
issue Visas at the border
Circulation into the Daylight driving restrictions: No restrictions
territory: Night driving restrictions: No restrictions
Weekend driving bans: No bans
Season driving bans: No bans
Technical restrictions of vehicles sizes (height, width and weight) and licenses for
vehicles. Roads type and height restrictions (for tunnels or cities): N/A
Road/motorway tolls: No tolls
Restrictions as regards alcohol consumption while driving: Alcohol consumption is
not allowed while driving
Restrictions on driving time (for drivers): No restrictions
Possession of International driving license: Required
Use of rotating lights: no rotating lights
Convoy attendance: will be provided by RA Police in case of need
25
Facilitation of road Civil Protection Contact Point: RA Police
transport operations Competent authority concerning request escorts for civil protection convoys: RA
Police
Competent authority concerning request for exceptions for urgent relief operations:
Ministry of Emergency Situations of the RA
Aerial transport of relief / international teams:
Entry into the International airports (e.g. availability/operational program, capacity/take-off and
territory landing lane length, taxes for parking and handling services, availability of resources
for refueling): ZVARTNOTS International airport, Gyumri International airport
Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): Documents of SAR dogs
shall be provided upon acceptance of the offer. All veterinary inspections are
then arranged to be carried out at border crossing points.
Providing Visa at the airport for relief personnel: Police provides to issue Visas at
the border
Facilitation of Exempt relief goods and equipments from all custom duties, taxes, tariffs or any
Customs procedures governmental fees: yes, according to a separate government decree
Exempt relief goods and equipments from all export, transit and import restrictions:
yes, according to a separate government decree
Simplify and minimize documentation requirements for export, transit and import: yes
Waive or reduce inspection requirements: yes
Availability of customs outside of business hours: yes
Facilitation of aerial Civil Protection Contact Point: Artyom Movsesyan, Head of the General
transport operations Department of the Civil Aviation,Yerevan,0042 Zvartnots tel.(37410)59-30-03,28-
20-66 Fax (37410) 28-53-45, e-mail: artiom.movsesyan@aviation.am
Competent authority concerning request for rapid grant of landing and over flight
permission for relief flights: General Department of Civil Aviation of Republic of
Armenia
General Department of Civil Aviation of Republic of Armenia
Regulations and other particular issues affecting the liability of relief personnel
Recognition of Yes / No / Other procedure: Yes, with no certification procedure

relevant professional
qualifications of Legal basis: N/A
relief personnel
(medical personnel,
rescuers, engineers,
etc) during the
international
assistance operation
Recognition of all Yes / No / Other procedure: yes
necessary
certificates and Legal basis: N/A
qualifications
needed for the
conduct of their
work, such as
driver’s license
Any liability for Requesting Nation: yes
physical injury, or
adverse health Sending Nation: No
effects or death of or
any person / Individual worker: No
property damage on
your territory Legal basis: N/A
produced with no
26
intention by the relief
personnel of the
Sending Nation
during the relief
operations, shall be
assumed by:
Regulations and other particular issues regarding the Host Nation Support
Concept Yes / No / Other procedure: yes
implemented into the
relevant national Legal basis: Government decree N919 of 10 June 2011 “Population protection
legislation in force plan in case of a strong earthquake”,
The Republic of Armenia AL265 of 2 December 1998 law on “Population
Protection in Emergency Situations”
Consist in providing
support to the
international relief
personnel with the
followings
Entry (visa, work permit, waiver of taxation on roads, provision of escort, security, clearing
of the roads, etc)
Yes / No / Which of them: yes
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: N/A
Communication (providing to the international relief teams in due time the necessary access to
frequencies, bandwidth and satellite use)
Command and (liaison officers designated for cooperation with the incoming international teams)
Control Yes / No: yes
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: In case of disaster
Ministry of Emergency Situations will create RDC (HNS) teams. Liaison officer
of the RDC (HNS) Teams will provide all kind of assistance for incoming
international rescue teams.
Coordination (existence of procedures for other relevant Ministries involvement in relief reception
operations, such as Telecommunication, Transport, Health, Police Services, etc)
Yes / No: yes
Security (appropriate measures in place to keep safe the relief personnel, locations, goods and
equipment related to the international assistance)
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Security is assumed
both by the host and sending nation. Incoming relief teams shall ensure safety
on site of operations.
Operations Area (base camp provision with adequate conditions for accommodation, food, water,
hygiene facilities, storage, electricity, communication technology, vehicles parking,
transport, fuel supply, etc)
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Armenia expects
disaster relief teams to be self-sufficient for 7-10 days. In case of need,
however, lodging, water, food, fuel and electricity can be provided. It is unclear
whether for free of charge or against payment. Distribution channels of all the
above services and commodities are arranged by the Ministry of Emergency
Situation, local management authorities and private companies.
Language (provision of interpreters for the international teams)
Yes / No: yes
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Administrative / officer
support, interpretation and eventually technical / ICT support as well as inland
transport are available.
27
List of relevant contacts
civil protection Postal address: 109/8 A. Mikoyan Str., 4th Block of Davitashen, 0054
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Telephone number: (+374 10) 31 78 43, (+374 10) 31 77 20, (+374 60) 44-02-30
Fax number: +374 (10) 36-02-87
E-mail address: sergey.azaryan@mes.am
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Director of Rescue
Service of MES, r/s major-general Sergey Azaryan, (+374 10) 31 78 01,
Population protection and organization of disaster consequences elimination
department of Rescue Service of MES, r/s colonel Hovhannes Yemishyan(+374
10) 31 78 15
emergency / Postal address: 109/8 A. Mikoyan Str., 4th Block of Davitashen, 0054
operational Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Telephone number: +374 (10) 36-02-97, +374 (10) 36-02-81,
+374 (60) 44-03-35
Fax number: +374 (10) 36-02-87
E-mail address: cmc@mes.am
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Head of operations
Department of Rescue Service of MES, r/s colonel Arman Tsolakyan
International Postal address: 109/8 A. Mikoyan Str., 4th Block of Davitashen, 0054
cooperation Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Telephone number: (010) 31 77 61, (010) 31 77 80
Fax number: +374 (10) 36-02-87
E-mail address: gevorgyan.mariam@mes.am
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Department of
Foreign Relations, Head: Mariam Gevorgyan
International Postal address: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government House #2, Republic
assistance Square, Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone number: +374 60 620000
Fax number: +374 60 620062
E-mail address: info@mfa.am
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Edward Nalbandian
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Responder:
PPRD East National Programme Coordinator in ARMENIA - Mr. Hovhannes Yemishyan,

Head of Department on Population Protection and Organization of Elimination of Disaster Consequences,
Ministry of Emergency Situations
+37410317815
+37491201966
emihovhanes@yandex.ru
28
4.2. REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

International Relations Department, Ministry of Emergency Situations
FLAG:
Description: The National Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan consists of

three horizontal stripes equal in length. The upper stripe is blue, the
middle is red, the lower is green colored. In the center of the red stripe
on the both sides of the flag there is a white crescent and eight-angled
star.
The blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkish heritage, red stands for
modernization and progress, and green refers to Islam; the crescent
moon is an Islamic s ymbol, while the eight-pointed star represents the
eight Turkish peoples of the world.

Head of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
Head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003)
Capital: Baku:
Geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E
Time difference: UTC+4
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Population: 9,477,159 (2014 est.)
Area: 86,6 thousand square km (12% of the territory are covered by forests, 1,7% - by
water, 54,9% - by agricultural lands, (including 30,6% - by pastures , 31,4% are other
lands). The country is situated in the latitude 38° and 42° of north and in the longitude
of 44° and 52° east.
GDP/capita (PPP): $8000 (2013 est.)
Membership of ADB, BSEC, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,
international IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
organizations: Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer),
OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW , OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNW TO, UPU, W CO, W FTU, W HO, W IPO,
W MO, W TO (observer)
Ethnic groups: Azerbaijani 91.6%, Lezgian 2,0%, Russian 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, Turks
0.4%, Avars 0.6%, other 2.8%.
Religions: The religion in Azerbaijan is separated from state. All religions are equal before the
law. The majority of the population is Muslims (93,4%). At present there are more
than 380 registered religious communities in Azerbaijan. Christianity is represented by
the orthodox, catholic and protestant branches, as well as by different sectarian
communities. There are 3 Jewish communities – Mountain Jews, Ashkenazi Jews and
Georgian Jews.
Climate: There are nine types of climate in the country, varying from dry and humid
subtropical to the climate of upland tundra, with extremes of temperature from
- 45C in highland to + 44C in lowlands.
Location: Azerbaijan is situated on the southeastern part of the Caucasus, which
stretches for more than 800 km from the Black to the Caspian sea. Lying at
the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the country has a unique geographical
position, and retains its significance for world economic and cultural links.
Land boundaries: Border countries: Iran (765 km) and Turkey (15 km) in the south, Russia
(390 km) in the north, Georgia (480 km) in the north-west, Armenia (1007 km)
in the west. The length of the widest area of Azerbaijan section of the Caspian
29
Sea is 456 km.
Coastline Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)
Terrain:
The elevation changes over a relatively short distance from lowlands to highlands;
nearly half the country is considered mountainous.
Mountains cover 60% of the total area of the Azerbaijan republic. The principle
geomorphological structures of Azerbaijan Republic -Major Caucasus, Minor
Caucasus (with Garabagh plateau) and Talysh mountains surround the Kur-Araz
lowland in the north, west and south-east.
Kur-Araz lowland lies on the area between Major and Minor Caucasus and Talysh
Mountains.
The Kur and Araz rivers divide the lowland into five plains: Shirvan, Qarabagh, Mil,
Mughan and Salyan plains.
Samur-Devechi lowland, resting on Qusar sloping plain on the Caspian Sea shore,
streches from Absheron peninsula to the north. Lenkeran lowland runs from the
Absheron Peninsula to the south on the foothills of Talysh mountains. Kur-Araz,
Samur-Devechi, Lenkeran lowlands and most part of the Absheron peninsula lie
below sea level.
Baku lies on Apsheron Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea.
Land use: Arable land: 21.78%; permanent crops: 2.62%; other: 75.6% (2011)
Natural hazards: Droughts, floods, mudflows, landslides, avalanches, earthquake.
Environment: After achieving its independence the national environmental policy in regards to
protection of the environment started to evolve with a new spirit in the Republic of
Azerbaijan. As the first document in reference to national environmental policy during
this period in Azerbaijan was the “Environmental Concept of the Republic of
Azerbaijan,” which was developed on the basis of “Sustainable Development”
principles. This Concept reflects main guidelines for resolution of pressing issues in
terms of protection of the environment.
Currently, there are following ecological problems: pollution of water basins, including
that of the Caspian Sea with waste water originated from domestic and industrial
activities; damages incurred by changing level of the Caspian Sea; emission of
harmful gases into the atmosphere at a level that exceeds acceptable norms;
decreased biodiversity, erosion and salinization of land; and problems arisen from
utilization of domestic and industrial waste and etc.
As approx. 40% of the country’s population and 70% of the industrial potential of the
country is concentrated in the Absheron peninsula.
One of the primary problems of the Absheron peninsula is related to the
contamination of land.
The major reasons causing ecological problems are the contamination of lands with
oil and layer waters during oil-gas extraction and drilling works.
The main objective of environmental policy implemented in the Republic of Azerbaijan
is to ensure sustainable development through protection of available ecological
systems and economic capacity and efficient use of natural resources in order to meet
the needs of existing and future generations.
In support of Azerbaijan's environmental protection goals, a number of important laws,
legal documents and state programs, all of which conform to European law
requirements, have been developed and approved in order to improve the ecological
situation in the country.
Within the scope of the 2010 - Year of Ecology various activities are realized, e-
resources on specific fields are prepared, educational measures among the
population are enhanced.
“Complex Actions Plan in the field of environmental improvement in Azerbaijan for
2006-2010” had been approved and a number of programs adopted.
30
National economy:
After restoration of independence in 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan began to realize
its sovereign rights in economic field and to implement independent policy. The main
directions of this policy are organization of the economic system based on different
types of property, transition to market economy and integration into the global
economy.
Oil-gas sector played dominant role in developing other sectors of economy.
In the beginning of economic recovery, the country lacked oil exporting infrastructure.
In order to fill this gap, in 1996 Azerbaijan signed an agreement allowed its oil exports
via Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline. In 1999 the new pipeline Baku-Supsa was put into
use; additionally, an agreement on construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, which is
currently the major oil exporting pipeline.
The oil contract on the development and production sharing of “Azeri”, “Chirag”,
“Guneshli” deepwater fields was signed with the oil companies of the West of Baku on
September 20, 1994.
Signing the contract with international oil companies laid the foundation of effective
and mutually advantageous co-operation with the countries of the companies
participating in the contract, paved the way for strengthening geo-political position of
the country, and speeding up the integration process into world economy.
The profit gained from oil is directed to the development of non-oil sector which
means the total flourishing of the state economy.
In order to implement comprehensive and sustainable measures aimed at economic
diversification, the following decrees and edicts were adopted and successfully
implementing: the State Program of Socio-Economic Development of the Regions of
Azerbaijan (2009-2013), the State Program of Poverty Reduction and Economic
Development in the Republic of Azerbaijan (2008-2015).
GDP growth amounted to 5.8 percent and GDP growth in the non-oil sector - 9.8
percent in Azerbaijan in 2013. The country's GDP increased to 57 billion manat as of
2013.
GDP per capita increased by 4.4 percent up to 6.132 manat (about $8,000).
The new stage aims at increasing the competitiveness of the national economy,
efficient integration into the world economic systems and ensuring a long-term
dynamic socio-economic development in the country.
(Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/aj.html; national
coordinator contribution)
FORM OF GOVERNMENT:
System description:
Azerbaijan is a democratic, legal, secular and unitary republic.
The state power in the Republic of Azerbaijan is based on a principle of division of
powers: In political system in terms of implementation of the state power Azerbaijan is
a presidential republic.
The Head of State is President. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is elected
for a 5-year term by way of general, direct and equal elections, with free, personal
and secret ballot.
In the Republic of Azerbaijan the Milli Majlis (Parliament) exercises the legislative
power. The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan consists of 125 deputies. The
Milli Majlis consists of 105 men (84,0 %) and 20 women (16,0 % ).
The judicial power is implemented by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Court of Appeal of
the Republic of Azerbaijan, regional and specialized courts of the Republic of
Azerbaijan.
31
Administrative Administratively, the republic is divided into 66 regions (rayon), 11 cities and the
divisions and autonomous republic of Nakhchivan.
structure:

Legal framework: The legal framework of Civil Defense is provided by the Constitution of the
Azerbaijan Republic, the Law of the Azerbaijan Republic on Civil Defense,
obligations under the international agreements of the Azerbaijan Republic and other
legislative acts, including the Decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic on
approval of the Regulations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Azerbaijan
Republic, structure of the Ministry and the number of staff - Decree № 394
Main laws providing legislative framework for Civil protection in Azerbaijan are:
 the Law on Civil Defence (1997), which defines the legal grounds and principles of civil defence in
Azerbaijan Republic and regulates public relations in the field of civil defence;
 the Law on Fire Safety (1997), which defines legal basis and principles on organisation of fire safety
and state fire control, enforced for the provision of fire protection on the territory of the Azerbaijan
Republic of human life and health, national treasures, all types of property;
 the Law on Radiation Safety of the Population (1997), which defines legal bases of safety of activity
on sites affected by radiation, protection from radiating danger and protection of public health, and
also legal settlement in the field of maintenance of radiating safety;
 The Law of Technical Safety (1999).
Available on the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s website, www.msbmyndigheten.se; Technical Report 4
- Strengthening the Eastern Region's Institutional and Legislative Frameworks; national coordinator
contribution)
Civil protection/civil Azerbaijan has a clear determination of powers in the field of civil defence/protection
defense/civil that is enucleated in an almost exhaustive way in the Decree N 394 “on approval of
emergency planning: the Regulations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Azerbaijan Republic,
System overview,
structure of the Ministry and the number of staff”.
organization and
structure
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the main
institutional player in DM. Being a republican executive body, thus expression of the
Government and Parliament; it develops implements and coordinates the policy of
the Republic of Azerbaijan in the fields of CP and civil defense. During times of
emergencies it is responsible for coordinating and implementing activities aimed at
the protection of the population through authorities vested in laws and other relevant
legal acts.
The national functions of civil defense in the Republic are carried out by the civil
defense system. This system embraces all government agencies, corporations,
enterprises, institutions, organizations and other entities, irrespective of their
ownership, as well as their personnel and resources. It performs civil defense activi-
ties throughout the entire country and its territorial units.
There are civil defense headquarters in the central and local bodies of executive
power, as well as corporations, enterprises, institutions and individual facilities, which
organize and carry out civil defense activities.
32
Civil protection/civil Civil protection and disaster prevention are tasks of state Civil Protection system.
defense/civil The Ministry of Emergency Situations is responsible for civil protection in
emergency planning coordination with the relevant state entities.
objectives and tasks:
Objectives:
 to carry out preventive measures for the purpose of prevention of
emergencies;
 to minimize the possible damage and losses due to emergencies;
 to eliminate emergencies and their consequences;
 protect the population and property from the consequences of emergencies;
 inform the population of threats and the subsequent actions to be taken;
 organize and perform rescues and other urgent operations;
 Train key personnel in government bodies and civil defence forces, and train
the population in protection and emergency response.
Tasks:
 Develop and implement state policy and regulation in the area of civil
defense, protection of the population and territories from emergency
situations
 Develop instructions on preparation and implementation of civil defence
training and exercises, protection of the population from emergency
situations, ensuring fire safety and safety of people in water basins;
 Ensure the implementation of the National Concept of the Azerbaijan
Republic on the prevention and elimination of the consequences of
emergency situations and other state programs;
 Manage humanitarian aid, including the aid received from foreign countries
and provided to foreign countries;
 Ensure prevention and elimination of the consequences of emergency
situations associated with the spillage of oil and oil products as a result of a
breakdown;
 Develop a general plan for locating potentially hazardous industrial facilities;
 Organize the development of a Program of necessary actions to improve
seismic resistance of buildings and facilities in seismically active zones;
 Organize the development of a system of regulatory acts in the area of
safety in construction
 Ensure the operation of an emergency rescue service by means of a hotline
accessible by telephone 112
 To coordinate work involving collection, transportation, processing, storage
and burial of radioactive wastes of enterprises regardless of the form of their
ownership, as well as construction, operation, restoration and
decommissioning of facilities working with radioactive wastes, and to
exercise control over this work;
 Carry out scientific research and experimental design work in the area of civil
defence, prevention of emergency situations, fire safety, safety in industry
and mining and industrial operations, and safety in construction;
 To organize population awareness on civil defence issues, protection from
emergency situations, fire safety and safety of people in water basins, to
provide methodological supervision of such work carried out by other state
bodies and public organizations;
 to ensure introduction of state-of-the-art equipment and technologies in
preventing and eliminating the consequences of emergency situations on the
basis of available international experience
 to organize, jointly with appropriate bodies of executive authority, public
donation of blood and blood components in the event of acute need in
emergency situations;
Civil protection/civil The overall command of the Civil Defense of the Azerbaijan Republic is vested in the
defense/civil President of the Azerbaijan Republic; the Prime Minister is responsible for its
emergency planning immediate leadership,.
33
organizational Planning, implementation and control of civil protection activities are carried out by
structure: the central body of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, its affiliated bodies and its
regional centers.
Available on the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s website, www.msbmyndigheten.se; Technical Report 4
- Strengthening the Eastern Region's Institutional and Legislative Frameworks; national coordinator
contribution).
Civil-military The Law on Civil Defense regulates the civil-military cooperation.
cooperation: Civil-military cooperation is regulated by Law on Civil Defence. The Civil Defence
Troops which is included in the structure of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are
involved in the civil protection activities. Close cooperation has been established
between NATO and United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the field of
civil-military planning with NATO within the Individual Partnership Action Plan and
civil-military emergency preparedness with USACE.
(Source: Technical Working Paper INITIAL ANALYSIS OF CIVIL PROTECTION CAPACITY OF THE
PARTNER COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011; national coordinator contribution)
External The Ministry for Emergency Situations are actively developing and maintaining
stakeholders: relations with IAEA, ICDO, CIS, INSARAG, NATO, CoE, EU, OSCE, UNICEF,
UNISDR, JICA, ADRC, ECO, GUAM, OPCW, BSEC
Internal stakeholders
Private sector: Within the scope of their activities, commercial companies, institutions
and other organizations are responsible for implementing emergency measures
relating to the protection and rescue of people and property.
Volunteers: Volunteers can be involved into activities during emergencies
NGOs: Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society
PARTNER COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011)
Disaster Relief A diagram with the National System organization is presented below:
34
Cabinet of Ministers of the

Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku Regional Centre

Sumgait Regional
Centre
North-West Regional
Centre
North Regional Centre
Karabag Regional
Centre
Ganja Regional Centre
Mujan Regional Centre
South Regional Centre
Aran Regional Centre
Available Human and

Material Resources
Early warning and

communication
Early warning systems The elements to form a proper integrated Early Warning System (EWS) exist as well
towards professionals as technical capacity and institutional organization.
The National Hydro-Meteorological Department issues hydro-meterological bulletins
on a regular basis for different actors. The Crisis Management Centre concentrates
such data and forecasts;
Early warning systems Information are currently concentrated into the Crisis Management Centre and
towards the population managed to provide warnings to the population.
Public information Despite the fact that institutional cooperation is foreseen with the media, the existing
system public information system is especially developed when emergency occurs. Although
communication actions are in place in peacetime to enhance preparedness.
Operative Communication among operational forces is conducted through the Ministry of
information Emergency Situations and the Ministry of Emergency Situations is responsible for
operative information.
Emergency Numbers A single emergency number “112” is operational in Azerbaijan
112 Call Centre can be contacted at the following cases:
35
 in case of natural and man-made disasters
 in case of fire or fire-caused situations
 in case of helpless situation where infants, the sick and aged persons are
trapped behind closed doors
 in case of serious road accidents
 in case of incidents in industrial and construction facilities, also, in case of
incident-induced occurrences
 in case of necessity for rescue works in water basins
 in case of lost and found of radioactive, chemical and other hazardous
materials, containers for their carriage, also, explosive substance and
ammunitions
 in case of necessity for aid during other accidents
 In case of failure to contact other services (102,103,104)
112 Call Centre can be contacted via landline in Baki, Sungayit and Absheron
regions, via GSM line (“Azercell”, Bakcell”,”Nar Mobile”) or via CDMA-type wireless
phones and pay phones all over the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic Call Centre
operators receive info and alert the relevant authorities to take operative
measures
Bilateral agreements Azerbaijan has concluded bilateral agreements on cooperation in the field of
emergency management with France, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus,
Jordan, Latvia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Kazakhstan and
Lithuania.
 Agreement on cooperation between the Government of the Republic of
Azerbaijan and Government of Georgia in the area of prevention,
mitigation and elimination of consequences of emergencies (1.08.2013),
Tbilisi, Georgia
 Agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance between the Government
of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of
Lithuania in the field of prevention and elimination of consequences of
emergencies. (7.09.2012), Baku, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria in the field of
emergency situations. (27.04.2012)
Azerbaijan and Government of the Republic of Latvia in the area of early
warning and elimination of consequences of emergencies. (17.01.2011),
Riga, Latvia.
Azerbaijan and Government of the Republic of Serbia in the field of
emergency situations (8.06.2011), Belgrade, Serbia
 Agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance during emergencies
between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of
the Republic of Azerbaijan. (11.11.2011), Baku, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan and Government of the Republic of Serbia in the field of
emergency situations (8.06.2011), Belgrade, Serbia
 Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Emergency Situations of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the
Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of civil protection, warning and
elimination (6.10.2010), Astana, Kazakhstan.
of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Government of Greec e in the field of
prevention and liquidation of consequences of natural disasters and
technological accidents (22.02.2010), Athens, Greece
36
Azerbaijan and Government of Romania in the area of mitigation,
reduction, and elimination of consequences of emergencies (28.09.2009),
Bucharest, Romania
 Agreement on cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the field of management of emergency
situations (30.07.2007), Amman, Jordan
of the Republic of France and Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in
the area of civil protection and security (30.01.2007), Paris, France.
 Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Emergency Situations of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the
Republic of Belarus (30.01.2007), Minsk, Belarus.
 Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Emergency Situations
of the Republic of Azerbaijan and State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of
Ukraine in the sphere of radiation safety (7.09.2006), Baku, Azerbaijan
 Agreement on cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the
Republic of Turkey in the field of management of emergency situations
(9.08.2006), Baku, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan and Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in the area of prevention
and elimination of consequences of emergencies. (29.08.2002), Baku,
Azerbaijan

Agreement on cooperation between the Government of Russian Federation
and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the field of early
warning and prevention of emergency situations. (9.01.2001)
Multilateral  A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of
agreements, MOUs, Interior of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Ministry of Emergency
Protocols of Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the sphere of elimination of
cooperation, etc. consequences of emergency situations (9.04.2014), Tehran, Iran
 A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of
Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Civil Protection
Department of Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy in the sphere of
civil protection and mutual assistance during emergencies. (25.05.2011),
Rome, Italy.
 Joint Declaration of Intent on bilateral cooperation and mutual assistance
between the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs of Federal Republic of
Germany and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of
Azerbaijan (8.06.2009), Berlin, Germany
 Joint Plan of Action for the years of 2009-2011 for the implementation of
Agreement on cooperation between the Government of the Republic of
Azerbaijan and Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in the area of prevention and
th
elimination of consequences of emergencies which was signed on 29 of
August in Baku. (18.09.2009), Baku, Azerbaijan
 A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between National
Emergency Management Agency of the Republic of Korea and the Ministry
of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the field of
management of emergency situations (23.04.2007), Seul, Korea
 Protocol of Intention on cooperation between the Ministry of Emergency
Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Interior of the
Republic of France (4.10.2006), Paris, France
37
The Government has delegated MES the authority to launch international missions
to assist countries stricken by disasters under certain conditions. MES coordinates
and is directly responsible for all international assistance offered or received on a
bilateral or regional basis or through the EADRCC/NATO and the United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. One of the tasks of MES mirrored
in its implementing regulations is as follows: manage humanitarian aid, including the
aid received from foreign countries and provided to foreign countries.
International assistance is offered / requested on a case-by-case basis following

cross-departmental consultation. The Department on Management of Humanitarian
Assistance implements the activity of MES in the field of management of
humanitarian aids. The following subordinate agencies of MES actively participate in
the management of international assistance received from foreign countries and
provided to foreign countries and also in international rescue operations within their
competences:
 Special Risky Rescue Service,
 Civil Defence Troops,
 State Fire Protection Service,
 State Material Reserves Agency,
 Aviation Team,
 State Maritime Rescue Service,
 Caspian Basin Rescue Service.

Entry into the Specialized border crossing points (e.g. access only for trucks etc): N/A
territory: Hazardous goods and restricted equipments: N/A
Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): N/A
Providing Visa at the border crossing point for relief personnel: N/A
Circulation into the Daylight driving restrictions: N/A
territory: Night driving restrictions: N/A
Weekend driving bans: N/A
Season driving bans: N/A
Road/motorway tolls: N/A
Restrictions as regards alcohol consumption while driving: N/A
Restrictions on driving time (for drivers): N/A
Possession of International driving license: N/A
Use of rotating lights: N/A
Convoy attendance: N/A
Facilitation of road Civil Protection Contact Point: N/A
transport operations Competent authority concerning request escorts for civil protection convoys: N/A
N/A
for refueling): N/A
Providing Visa at the airport for relief personnel: N/A
Customs procedures governmental fees: N/A
N/A
Simplify and minimize documentation requirements for export, transit and import: N/A
Waive or reduce inspection requirements: N/A
38
Availability of customs outside of business hours: N/A
Facilitation of aerial Civil Protection Contact Point: N/A
transport operations Competent authority concerning request for rapid grant of landing and over flight
permission for relief flights: N/A
N/A
Recognition of Yes / No / Other procedure: N/A
relief personnel
(medical personnel,
etc) during the
international
Recognition of all Yes / No / Other procedure: N/A
necessary
qualifications
needed for the
conduct of their
work, such as
driver’s license
Any liability for Requesting Nation: N/A
physical injury, or
adverse health Sending Nation: N/A
any person / Individual worker:
property damage on
produced with no
personnel of the
Sending Nation
during the relief
assumed by:
Concept Yes / No / Other procedure: N/A
relevant national Legal basis: N/A
legislation in force
support to the
personnel with the
followings
of the roads, etc)
Yes / No / Which of them: N/A
Control Yes / No: N/A
39
Yes / No: N/A
Security (appropriate measures in place to keep safe the relief personnel, locations, goods
and equipment related to the international assistance)
Yes / No: N/A

civil protection Postal address: N/A
Telephone number: N/A
Fax number: N/A
E-mail address: N/A
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): N/A
emergency / Postal address: N/A
operational Telephone number: N/A
Fax number: N/A
E-mail address: N/A
International Postal address: N/A
cooperation Telephone number: N/A
Fax number: N/A
E-mail address: N/A
assistance Telephone number: N/A
Fax number: N/A
E-mail address: N/A
Responder:
PPRD East National Coordinator in the Republic of AZERBAIJAN - Mr. Jeyhun Isgandarli,
Senior Advisor, International Relations Department, Ministry of Emergency Situations
+994556464748
jeyhun.isgandarli@fhn.gov.az
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan Republic
www.fhn.gov.az
M. Mushvig str., 501 block,
Tel.: (+994 12) 512 00 61

Fax: (+994 12) 512 00 46
40
4.3. REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Ms Anna Uss, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Emergency Situations
FLAG:
Description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-
half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side
bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red; the red band color
recalls past struggles from oppression, the green band represents hope
and the many forests of the country

Head of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
Head of government: Prime minister Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH (since 28 December 2010);
Capital: Minsk
Time difference: UTC+2
Area: Total: 207,600 sq km; Land: 202,900 sq km; W ater: 4,700 sq km
GDP/capita (PPP): $15,500 (2012 est.)
Membership of BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC,
international EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFC,
organizations: IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs),
MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW , OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO (dialogue member),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNW TO, UPU, W CO, W FTU
(NGOs), W HO, W IPO, W MO, W TO (observer), ZC
Ethnic groups: Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other
3.2% (2009 census)
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant,
Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Climate: Cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental
and maritime
Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Land boundaries: Total: 3,306 km
Border countries: Latvia 171 km, Lithuania 680 km, Poland 605 km,
Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
Terrain: Generally flat and contains much marshland. Landlocked; glacial scouring
accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes.
Natural hazards: The main natural hazards relevant for the region are: floods, storms,
forest fires and heat waves.
Environment: Soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the countr y
contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at
Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
National economy: As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus had a relatively well-
developed industrial base; it retained this industrial base - which is now
outdated, energy inefficient, and dependent on subsidized Russian
energy and preferential access to Russian markets - following the
breakup of the USSR. The countr y also has a broad agricultural base
which is inefficient and dependent on government subsidies. After an
initial burst of capitalist reform from 1991-94, including privatization of
state enterprises, creation of institutions of private propert y, and
development of entrepreneurship, Belarus' economic development greatly
slowed. About 80% of all industry remains in state hands, and foreign
41
investment has been hindered by a climate hostile to business. A few
banks, which had been privatized after independence, were
renationalized. State banks account for 75% of the banking sector.
Economic output, which had declined for several years following the
collapse of the Soviet Union, revived in the mid-2000s thanks to the boom
in oil prices. Belarus has only small reserves of crude oil, though it
imports most of its crude oil and natural gas from Russia at prices
substantially below the world mark et. Belarus exported refined oil
products at market prices produced from Russian crude oil purchased at
a steep discount. In late 2006, Russia began a process of rolling back its
subsidies on oil and gas to Belarus. Tensions over Russian energy
reached a peak in 2010, when Russia stopped the export of all subsidized
oil to Belarus save for domestic needs. In December 2010, Russia and
Belarus reached a deal to restart the export of discounted oil to Belarus.
Little new foreign investment has occurred in recent years. In 2011, a
financial crisis began, triggered by government directed salar y hikes
unsupported by commensurate productivity increases. The crisis was
compounded by an increased cost in Russian energy inputs and an
overvalued Belarusian ruble, and eventually led to a near three-fold
devaluation of the Belarusian ruble in 2011. In November 2011, Belarus
agreed to sell to Russia its remaining shares in Beltransgaz, the
Belarusian natural gas pipeline operator, in exchange for reduced prices
for Russian natural gas. Receiving more than half of a $3 billion loan from
the Russian-dominated Eurasian Economic Communit y Bail-out Fund, a
$1 billion loan from the Russian state-owned bank Sberbank, and the
$2.5 billion sale of Beltranzgas to Russian state-owned Gazprom helped
stabilize the situation in 2012; nevertheless, the Belarusian currency lost
more than 60% of its value, as the rate of inflation reached 53% in 2011
and 59% in 2012.
(Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bo.html)
MAP OF BELARUS:
42
FORM OF GOVERNMENT:
System description: Belarus is a unitary, democratic, social, constitutional republic. The president is head
of state and has broad powers over the government. The president appoints a prime
minister upon approbation from the House of Representatives, who heads the Council
of Ministers, i.e. the government; appoints the chairperson of the Constitutional,
Supreme and Supreme Economic Courts from among the judges of these courts
upon approbation from the Council of the Republic. The country’s legislature consists
of two houses: an upper house called the Council of the Republic, and a lower house
called the House of Representatives.
The Constitutional Court is the highest court of Belarus. The judicial system also
includes a Supreme Court and provincial, city and district courts.
Administrative Belarus is divided into six provinces: Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk, Mogilev, and
divisions and Vitebsk. A council elected by the voters governs each province. The president
structure: appoints regional and local executives.

Legal framework: In the Republic of Belarus, the main powers and authority in the field of CP and DM
activities are centralized and in charge of the Ministry of Emergency Situations
(MoES) with the help of its regional (territorial) authorities. This is targeted by all the
main laws in the CP area, starting from the "Law of the Republic of Belarus on
Protection of Population and Territories against Natural and Manmade Emergencies"
(law nr.141/May1998) and the subsequent "Law of the Republic of Belarus on
Emergency Authorities and Entities" (law nr.45/July 2009). MoES is one of the main
institutional actors in DM. Being a republican executive body, thus expression of the
Government and Parliament; it develops, implements and coordinates the policy of
the Republic of Belarus in the area of CP. During times of emergencies it is
responsible for coordinating activities aimed at the protection of the population
through authorities vested in laws and other relevant legal acts.
(Source: Technical Report 4 - Strengthening the Eastern Region's Institutional and Legislative Frameworks.).
Civil protection/civil At national level - The Government through the Ministry for Emergency Situations
defense/civil implements system of emergency preparedness and response
emergency planning: At Ministerial level - The Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus
System overview, (Further – the MES) is the central governmental authority exercising control in the
organization and prevention and elimination of emergency situations of natural and man-made disaster,
structure as well as fire, industrial, nuclear and radiation safety, the elimination of the
consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, the creation and preservation of state
and mobilization material reserves.
The MES operates on three levels: national, provincial and district. In addition, rural
areas have posts.
The MES has funding from the republican and local budgets, as well as funding from
governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Inter ministerial cross cutting coordination - The Ministry for Emergency Situations
coordinates activities of other state bodies of executive power
Inter agency coordination, levels of command and control - The Ministry for
Emergency Situations is responsible for coordination of actions related to eliminations
consequences of emergencies.
At regional level - The Ministry for Emergency Situations coordinates of actions
related to eliminations consequences of emergencies on regional level
At local level - The Ministry for Emergency Situations coordinates of actions related to
eliminations consequences of emergencies on local level.
Civil protection/civil The basic tasks of the national system of prevention and resolution of emergency
defense/civil situations are to:
emergency planning - develop and implement legal and economic standards regarding the protection of
objectives and tasks: the population and the territories from emergency situations;
43
- implement principal and scientific- technical programmes to prevent emergency
situations, increase steadiness of organizational functionality and societal objects in
- provide preparedness for the actions management bodies during emergency
situations, forces and means, assigned and provided for prevention and resolution of
- create republican, branch, territorial, local and specific object reserves of financial
resources for the resolution of emergency situations;
- gather, process, exchange and distribute information related to the protection of the
population and the territories from emergency situations;
- prepare the population for action during emergency situations;
- arrange national examinations, and execute supervision and control over the
protection of the population and the territories from emergency situations;
- resolve emergency situations;
- implement activities related to the societal protection of the population against
emergency situations, carry out humanitarian operations;
- realize the rights and duties of the population in the field of protection from
emergency situations as well as those of direct participants in the resolution of
- co-operate internationally in the field of protection of the population and the
territories from emergency situations;
- plan and implement measures for protection of the population and the territories
from emergency situations;
- organize and implement measures for the preparation of civil defense activities;
- actively inform national bodies and other organizations and the population about
emergency situations, orders and rules for action in such environments;
- monitoring and prediction of emergency situations.
Civil protection/civil There has been created State system of disasters prevention and response operates
defense/civil at a high organizational level. The system unites all national and local governments
emergency planning and other organizations. The MES is the focal point of the system.
organizational
structure:
PARTNER COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011).
Civil-military Specially prepared forces and means of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus,
cooperation: and other troops and military formations can be used for the resolution of emergency
situations in Belarus. The president determines the scale of involvement
Thus, the roles and functions of the Ministry of Defense are as follows:
-Participation in the emergency response with military units of the Armed Forces of
the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the plans of interaction.
-Maintaining a commitment to allocate action units formations for disaster
management.
-Planning, organization and implementation of measures of the local defence.
-Organizing works in emergency situations related to the storage, operation,
transportation of army units and military equipment including munitions clearance.
-Take control of radiation, chemical and biological (bacteriological) conditions in the
areas of the facilities of the Ministry of Defence.
-Ensuring the participation of the military transport aviation in the delivery of power,
money and material resources in the areas of emergency.
-Performing search and rescue operations.
-Emergency repair work on the tracks, track facilities and other facilities of railway
transport according to the respective plans.
-Participation in the primary works in the aftermath of man-made and disasters
caused by natural hazards on the other objects of the Republic of Belarus.
PARTNER COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011; Technical Report 4 - Strengthening the
Eastern Region's Institutional and Legislative Frameworks)
44
External The Ministry for Emergency Situations are actively developing and maintaining
stakeholders: relations with UN, IAEA, CTIF, ICDO, CIS, INSARAG, NATO, DEZA, CEI
A number of donors and international partners support development of DM system in
Belarus. Among major partners are EU via DG ECHO, United Nation Development
Programme (UNDP), World Bank, Swiss Development Cooperation Agency (SDC)
and many others.
UNDP is focused mainly on issues related to the recovery of the areas affected by
Chernobyl catastrophe. Their projects are aimed at revitalization of social and
economic life in villages, information of population about safe behavior in radioactively
contaminated areas, health issues.
Volunteers: Volunteers can be involved into activities related to elimination
consequences of emergencies. Moreover, the Ministry for Emergency Situations
maintained system of regional and local volunteer's organizations.
NGOs: N/A
PARTNER COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011)
Disaster Relief
45
Available Human and
Material Resources
Early warning and

communication
Early warning systems Automatic early warning systems towards professionals is established and functioning
towards professionals
Early warning systems Automatic early warning systems towards population is established and functioning
towards the population
Public information Public information does exist. Their activity is depending on scale of emergency.
system
information Ministry of Emergency Situations
Emergency Numbers The “112” emergency number system is in development stage. The coordinator of all
works is the Ministry for Emergency Situations
Other emergency numbers
101 – rescue service and fire brigade,
102 – police,
103 – ambulance,
104 – gas service.
46
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of
Latvia on Cooperation in the Prevention of Disasters, Emergencies and Major
Accidents, as well as the Elimination of their Consequences (27.07.2004);
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of
Lithuania on Cooperation in the Prevention of Disasters, Emergencies and other
Accidents and Elimination of their Consequences (1.06.2004);
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Cabinet of
Ministers of Ukraine on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and Cooperation in
the Field of Radiation Safety (16.10.2001);
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the
Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on Cooperation in Civil Defense and Emergency
Preparedness and Response (30.05.2001);
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Cabinet of
Ministers of Ukraine on Cooperation in Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
(7.07.2000);
Government of the Republic of Austria on the Exchange of Information in the Field of
Nuclear Safety and Protection against Ionizing Radiation (9.06.2000);
Government of the Republic of Poland on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and
Cooperation in the Field of Radiation Safety (18.04.1997)
- Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the Agency for the Application of
Safeguards pursuant to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(31.08.1995);
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian
Federation on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in the Prevention of Major
Accidents, Natural Disasters and Mitigation (18.12.1993)
Multilateral
agreements, MOUs,
Protocols of
cooperation, etc.
Agreement between the Republic of Belarus and the United Nations on measures to
expedite the import, export and transit of relief consignments and possessions of
relief personnel assistance in case of disasters and emergencies signed on
13.02.2012
PARTNER COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011; Technical Report 4 - Strengthening the
Eastern Region's Institutional and Legislative Frameworks)
Legal framework applicable for incoming international assistance: Bilateral
agreements in force (Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan).
The following institutions of Belarus that may have responsibilities concerning
incoming international assistance:
-Commission for Emergency Situations, subordinate to the Council of Ministers, being
responsible for strategic coordination of emergency response activities
-Ministry for Emergency Situations, being the primary responsible operative agency
-Republican Emergency Management and Response Centre

Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): Quarantine requirements
47
are applied
Providing Visa at the border crossing point for relief personnel: N/A
Weekend driving bans: N/A
Season driving bans: N/A
Convoy attendance: N/A
Facilitation of road Civil Protection Contact Point: N/A
transport operations Competent authority concerning request escorts for civil protection convoys: N/A
N/A
for refueling): N/A
Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): Quarantine requirements
are applied
Customs procedures governmental fees: N/A
N/A
Simplify and minimize documentation requirements for export, transit and import: N/A
Availability of customs outside of business hours: N/A
Facilitation of aerial Civil Protection Contact Point: N/A
N/A
Recognition of Yes / No / Other procedure: Yes, with no certification procedure
relief personnel
(medical personnel,
etc) during the
international
Recognition of all Yes / No / Other procedure: N/A
necessary
qualifications
needed for the
conduct of their
work, such as
driver’s license
48
physical injury, or
property damage on
produced with no
personnel of the
Sending Nation
during the relief
assumed by:
relevant national Legal basis: N/A
support to the
personnel with the
followings
of the roads, etc)
Yes / No: N/A
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Security is assumed by
the host nation.
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Belarus does not
expect disaster relief teams to be self-sufficient. Lodging, water, food, fuel and
electricity can be provided free of charge. Distribution channels of all the above
services and commodities are arranged on a case-by-case basis, as
appropriate.
Yes / No: N/A
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Translation services
and inland transport are available free of charge.
49
civil protection Postal address:
Telephone number:
Fax number:
E-mail address:
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure):
emergency / Postal address: N/A
operational Telephone number: N/A
Fax number: N/A
E-mail address: N/A
cooperation Telephone number: N/A
Fax number: N/A
E-mail address: N/A
assistance Telephone number: N/A
Fax number: N/A
E-mail address: N/A
Responder:
PPRD East National Coordinator in the Republic of BELARUS - Ms Anna Uss

Deputy Head of International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Emergency Situations
+375172036551
+375447722869
annauss@tut.by
50
4.4. GEORGIA

Mr. Giorgi Charkviani, Emergency Management Department of Emergency and Special Measures Center of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs
FLAG:
Description: white rectangle with a central red cross extending to all four
sides of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a small red Bolnur-
Katskhuri cross; sometimes referred to as the Five-Cross Flag; although
adopted as the official Georgian flag in 2004, the five-cross design
appears to date back to the 14th centur y.

Head of state: President Giorgi MARGVELASHVILI (since 17 November 2013)
Head of government: Prime Minister Irakli GARIBASHVILI (since 20 November 2013)
Capital: Tbilisi
The full, official name of the countr y is "Georgia", as specified in the

Etymology Georgian constitution. "Georgia" is an exonym, used in the W est since
the medieval period. It is presumably derived from the Persian-Arabic
designation of the Georgians, gurğ, ğurğ, borrowed around the time of
the First Crusade, ultimately derived from a Middle Persian varkâna,
meaning "land of wolves". The name was etymologized as referring
to St. George, explicitly so by the end of the 12th centur y by Jacques de
Vitr y, due to the Georgians' special reverence for that saint (see Tetri
Giorgi). Early modern French historic and traveler author such as Jean
Chardin tried to link the name to the literal meaning of Greek γεωργός
("tiller of the earth; agriculturalist").
The self-designation used y ethnicGeorgians is Kartvelebi (ქართველები,
i.e. "Kartvelians"), the native name of GeorgiaSakartvelo (საქართველო)
"land of Kartvelians" and of the Georgian language Kartuli (ქართული).
The medieval Georgian Chronicles present an eponymous ancestor of
the Kartvelians, Kartlos, a great-grandson of Japheth
mountain ranges and hills comprise 80% of Georgian territory. The

GEOGRAPHIC countr y is situated between 40 - 47 degrees E and 41 - 44 degrees N
COORDINATES:
Time zone: UTC+4
Area: Total: 69,700 sq. km;
Membership of ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, NATO EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-11, GCTU, GUAM,
international IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
organizations: IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ICDO, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF
(observer), OPCW , OSCE, PFP, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNW TO, UPU, W CO, W HO, W IPO, W MO, W TO,
“Association agreement with EU”, PFP with NATO.
Ethnic groups: Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5%
(2002 census)
51
Religions: Orthodox Christian (official) 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian

3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
State Language: Georgian; Georgian and Abkhaz in the territory of Autonomous Republic of
Abkhazia
Historical Outline:
Geographically Georgia is divided into two parts: eastern and western, each of which
developed its own distinct culture - Kolkhian (west) and Iberian (east). In the 4th
century B.C. King Parnavaz I established the first united Georgian state – called
Kingdom of Kartli. At the same period developed and officially adopted Georgian
original Alphabet which is unique one among worlds 14 Alphabet. Christianity first
reached Georgia in the 1st century A.D. The Apostles Andrew the First called,
Simon the Zealot and Matthias were the first to preach the teachings of the Christ
here. In approximately 327 A.D St. Nino of Cappadocia came to Georgia in order to
spread Christianity. She converted King of Georgia - Mirian, who then declared it the
state religion.
Recent History: Georgia was one of the first Soviet republics to take steps towards independence.
This process was accelerated by the events of 9 April 1989, when Soviet Soldiers
brutally crushed a peaceful rally in Tbilisi, killing 21 protestors. Elections held on 28
October 1990 put an end to Soviet Georgia, so on 9 April 1991 Georgia again
officially restored independence after 70 year occupation by Soviet Union red army
in 1921.
Climate: In General W arm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast -
The climate of Georgia is extremely diverse, considering the nation's
small size. There are two main climatic zones, roughly separating
Eastern and W estern parts of the countr y. The Greater Caucasus
Mountain Range plays an important role in moderating Georgia's climate
and protects the nation from the penetration of colder air masses from
the north. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains partially protect the region
from the influence of dry and hot air masses from the south as well.
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia,
with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into Europe
Border countries: Armenia 224 km, Azerbaijan 446 km, Russia 894 k m,
Turkey 275 km
Coastline 310 km
Terrain: Largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and
Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolk het'is Dablobi (Kolkhida
Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the
east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolk hida Lowland
Natural hazards: Earthquakes, landslides, Flash floods, hail;
Environment: Air pollution, particularly in Tbilisi city area because of sizeable number
of cars and vehicles (most of this cars/bus/vehicles/truck s are more then
10 year old) concentrated in city and their exhaust; and also in Rustavi
city area because of some industrial sites lack of modern air filtering
equipment, also pollution of Mtkvari River basically pollution starts in
Tbilisi, also pollution of the Black Sea; because of old water pipelines in
many area we face inadequate high qualit y supplies of potable water; in
some areas soil pollution from toxic chemicals.
52
National economy Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural
and General products such as grapes, grain, citrus fruits and hazelnuts; country is
information about very rich with fruits: apple, nut, chestnut. Very rich with drinking fresh
current situation: waters. Mining of Manganese, Arsenic, Copper, and Gold; and output of
a small industrial sector producing nonalcoholic and alcoholic
beverages, metals, machiner y, and chemicals. It has Huge hydropower
capacity that now provides most of its energy needs. Georgia has
completely overcome the chronic energy shortages and gas supply
interruptions of the past years by renovating and establish new
hydropower small and medium size plants and by increasingly relying on
natural gas imports from Azerbaijan republic instead of from Russian
Federation. Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, and the Kars-Akhalkalaki Railroad
are part of a strategy to capitalize on Georgia's strategic location
between Europe and Asia and develop its role as a transit point for gas,
oil, and other goods. Unemployment has also remained high at above
14%. Georgia from the period declaration of independence from Soviet
Union has suffered failure to collect tax revenues; however, the
government, considering lessons learned and best practice of EU
countries, also W orld bank recommendations has simplified the tax
code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement, and
cracked down on petty corruption, leading to higher revenues. The
countr y is pinning its hopes for renewed growth on a determined effort to
continue to liberalize the economy by reducing regulation, taxes, and
corruption in order to attract foreign investment, with a focus on
hydropower, agriculture, tourism, and textiles production. Last 15 years,
the government has taken a series of actions against endemic
corruption, including reform of the police and militaries implementation
of a fair examination system for entering the universit y system. The
government has received highest marks from the W orld Bank for its anti-
corruption efforts. Countr y government have clear strategy of future
development of democracy and still ver y actively continuous fight
against corruption at all level, step by step liberalize business field,
does ever ything to achieve sufficient transparency of government work
at all direction, does a lot to ensure real independence of law court from
political influence, keeps good relations with neighboring countries, try
to normalize relations with Russian federation and ver y actively tr y to
get closer with EU and NATO.
MAP OF GEORGIA:
53
FORM OF GOVERNMENT:
Georgia is a Democratic republic. The Government is constituted by the
Prime-Minister and the Ministers. The President of Georgia is the Head of
State; President represents Georgia in foreign relations, appoints the
Government, by guaranteeing the unity and integrity of the countr y and is
the supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The President can’t
dismiss the Parliament, but the parliament has the right to impeach the
President. In Georgia the judiciary is administered through the justice,
System description: constitutional control and other forms established by the law.
The public justice is one of the forms of administration of the judicial
power. The justice is administered by the common courts through the
civil, administrative and criminal procedures.
The common courts of Georgia are district (city) court, court of appeals,
Supreme Court of Georgia. state authorit y is exercised by the principle of
separation of powers. Consequently, the state is separated into
legislative, executive and judiciar y.
Administrative 9 regions (mk hareebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (k'alak'i), and 2
divisions and autonomous republics (avtonomiuri respublikebi, singular - avtonomiuri
structure: respublika)
Regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti,
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti,
Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli
Cit y: Tbilisi (capital)
Autonomous republics: Abk hazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika
(Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Batumi)
Note: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are
shown in parentheses

Legal framework: Georgia’s Law on “Civil Protection/safety” establishes Unified
emergency management system, which in its turn unifies all
governmental and non-governmental organizations, cancels some
previous regulations in civil protection field, So, according to this law
they (organizations/authorities) will have more clearly and deeply
defined objectives and tasks at all emergency management full c ycle.
Also in Georgia exists several acts, presidential and governmental
resolutions and decrees covers civil protection filed:
“National Response Plan for Natural and Manmade Emergency
Situations”, Adopted on the basis of the President Decree №415;
Governmental resolution №68 on ,,classification of emergencies”;
Governmental resolution №153 on ,,Emergency response forces”
issued 4.06.2010
Governmental resolution №154 on “Provisions for safety declaration”
issued 4.06.2010
Governmental resolution №69 on “Approval of Emergency Management
Governmental commissions Provision” – issued on 21.03 2008
Georgia’s Law on ,,State of Emergency’’ (1997-17 Oct);
Georgia’s Law on ,,Protection of Environment’’ adopted on 22.01.1997;
Georgia’s Law on ,,Nuclear and Radiological Safety’’ 30.10.1998
Georgia’s Law on ,,Hazardous Chemicals’’ 14.05.1998
Governmental №69 resolution on adoption of ,,emergency management
governmental commission”;
Governmental #154 resolution on “provision of safet y declaration”
54
Civil protection/civil Civil Protection Common system is a unity of government agencies,

defense/civil subordinated institutions within their coverage, legal entities of public
emergency planning: law, organizations engaged in fire safety under the national,
System overview, autonomous republican, regional, municipal authorities, which are aimed
organization and at the prevention and preparedness to emergencies, while in the case of
structure actual emergencies – response and recover y, civil safety, protection of
economic institutions and environment, reduction/decrees of material
damage and losses, along with the protection of citizens in emergencies
resulting from hostilities, provision of safe and stable operation of
facilities categorized as civil safet y institutions.
This system ensures the implementation of relevant measures within the
main phases of emergencies (prevention of emergencies, preparedness
to emergencies, emergency response and recover y), organization and
management of response forces, creation of material resources.
Civil Protection system at ever y level of governance is based on
Georgia’s law on “Civil protection”, national plan of public safety and
other legal instruments.
Emergenc y situations characteristic according to the their origin within

Georgia’s territor y could be of the following type:
A. Man-made;
B. Natural;
C. Social;
D. W ar.
3. Following types of emergencies are defined in Georgia on the
grounds of the volume of results caused by emergencies, response
forces needed for their liquidation and amount of material resources:
A. National;
B. Autonomous Republican
C. Regional;
D. Local- municipal/cit y;
E. Institutional/organizational/industrial site.
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT LEVELS AND

COMPETENCE OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OF MIA
OF GEORGIA W ITH SPECIFIC AUTHORITY
A. National (Central) Level – Emergenc y Management Agenc y under
the Ministr y of Internal Affairs of Georgia;
B. Autonomous Republic Level – Territorial Unit of the Agency in
the Autonomous Republic of Adjara;
C. Regional Level - Territorial Units of the Agency, which are
established in a city which hosts the Administration of the
Governor/State Representative;
D. Local Level – Territorial Units of the Agency, which are
established within the coverage area of the respective local
authority.
Civil Protection measures are financed from the national, autonomous

republic and local budgets, along with other sources of funding
permitted in the legislation.
Emergenc y response and liquidation of consequences are financed in
line with the rules defined by the Government of Georgia.
AUTHORITY OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES:
Authority of the executive government of Georgia in the area of

protection of citizens and land in emergencies within the scope of
competence defined in the National Emergency Response Plan for Civil
safety and other regulations shall be the following:
55
A. Notification of general public about emergencies arising in
peace or hostilities and provision of information on essential
actions of their civil safety;
B. Evacuation of citizens and allocation and/or arrangement
of shelters to them;
C. Organization of protection measures of citizens against
engineering, chemical, radiation, medical, biology, fire and
psychology weapons in emergencies and in line with the National
Response Plan;
D. Provision of accommodation or goods of primar y
consumption, essential stock of food and water to citizens in
emergencies;
E. Execution of emergency rescue and recover y activities in
the emergency zone, provision of civil safety, restoration of
utilities operation and maintenance of sustainable operation of
facilities categorized under civil safety;
F. Organization of burials for the deceased citizens in cases
of massive losses of life caused by emergencies arising in peace
or hostilities;
G. Timely identification of emergency risks and their prevention;
implementation of targeted scientific-technical programs for the
stable operation of facilities categorized under civil safet y in
emergencies and hostilities;
H. Development of a Common National Policy by passing regulations
within its competence with this purpose and supervision of their
execution; organization of civil safety in line with the common
plan;
I. Organization of the territory into groups of cities and
organizations into categories;
J. Development of militar y and public cooperation plans;
K. Definition of rules for the interaction of the authority of
executive government of Georgia and its local authorities for
the classification of emergencies, including those resulting from
forest fires, also for emergenc y response;
L. Establishment of structural divisions in the area of emergenc y
management;
M. Planning of organizational, engineering and technical measures
designed for the sustainable operation of the sector in actual or
potential emergencies and hostilities;
N. Development of legally binding norms and rules for the safe
operation of facilities categorized under civil safety in line with
the legislation of Georgia;
O. Development and implementation of emergenc y prevention
measures and emergency risk management plan;
P. Organization of scientific-research, pilot and development, test
and design activities;
Q. Organization of civil safety tests;
R. Establishment of emergency units for actual or potential
emergencies and provision of their operation;
S. Mobilization of material reserves;
T. Development of an institutional plans of emergency
management and their approval by the manager of the
institution after its agreement with the Agency;
U. Organization of a joint execution of measures in line with the
rules of militar y and public cooperation with agencies of special
authority and response forces;
V. Provision of the preparedness of management bodies for the
prevention of emergencies, preparedness of response forces
and creation of material resources;
56
W .Initial and repeated training of response forces in the prevention
and emergency response; training of national and local
authorities, organizations, duly authorized officials at facilities
categorized under civil safety and citizens with curriculum agreed
with the Agency;
X. Provision of support to the victims of emergencies and
organization of humanitarian and social protection measures;
Y. Define the provision of measures of international cooperation and
host countr y support;;
Z. Protection of human life and provision of their safety offshore.
2. Following belong to the authorit y of the executive government
agencies of Georgia in the area of fire safet y and within the competence
defined in the legislation of the country:
A. Development and implementation of a national policy, issuance
of regulations and control over their execution;
B. Development of targeted programs, organization and funding of
their execution;
C. Development of technical regulations, norms, rules and other by-
laws on fire safety, including the rules of firefighting and
emergency rescue in accidents, along with the regulations for
organizations;
D. Development of the expenditure part of the state budget for the
execution of fire safety measures and targeted use of budget
allocations;
E. Establishment, reorganization and liquidation of fire protection
units and their management organizations;
F. Organization and implementation of national fire supervision;
G. Provision of public information; establishment of statistical
records-keeping systems on fires and their consequences;
H. Definition of common principles of compliance in the area of fire
safety;
I. Implementation of legal and social protection measures for the
staff of the national firefighting services and their family
members;
J. Organization of institutional fire surveillance at organizations
subordinated to executive government if required;
K. Development of a list of particularly significant, potentially
hazardous, national treasure and cultural heritage sites approved
with a Government Decree, which essentially need to have fire
protection.
3. Executive government agencies of Georgia are responsible for the
following in the area of fire safety and within their respective
competencies:
A. Ensure the adherence to the fire safet y requirements at their
subordinated organizations and within their respective territories;
B. Establish conditions for the engagement of citizens in the
activities of fire prophylactics and fire fighting;
C. Organize the fire safety campaign and training of citizens in the
rules of fire safety;
D. Ensure the forest fire prophylactics;
E. Ensure the organization of firefighting and emergenc y rescue in
accidents.
4. Authorised officials of the executive government agencies of Georgia
provide methodology guidance to legal entities of the sector in
emergencies for the protection of their staff and on issues of safe
operation of enterprises.
5. Managers of the executive government agencies of Georgia are kept
responsible under the legislation of Georgia on the adherence of their
subordinates to their assigned functions in the area of civil safety in line
57
with the legislation of Georgia.
6. Executive government agencies of Georgia collect, process and
communicate/share information in the area of public safety, along with
other functions defined in the legislation of Georgia.
7. Relevant agencies of the executive government enforce control over
the fire safety, prevention of emergencies and adherence to emergenc y
response in line with the legislation of Georgia in forests, mining and
underground sites, production, of explosives for industrial purposes,
their transportation, storage, use, processing and disposal, along with
the air, marine and rail transportation means, operation of floating
marine means and constructions.
8. Authorit y of agencies supervising the national fire and civil safety,
along with national firefighting service shall be regulated at the sites of
the Ministr y of Defense of Georgia on the grounds of a joint Order of the
Ministers of Defense and Interior of Georgia.
Civil-military According to the Georgia’s law on “Civil safety” all the authorities are obliged for
cooperation: Organization of a joint execution of measures in line with the rules of military and
civil cooperation.
NOTE: Emergency Management Agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of

Georgia is responsible to implement civil defense tasks in case of armed conflicts.;
Diagram of the Civil Protection Structure of Georgia
58
Available Human
and Material Resources
(Diagram with the Organization of chains of command during disaster relief operations of Georgia even here is
how country apply request for international Assistance in case of National level Emergencies)
Early warning and How it is defined in Georgia: “. Notification/early warnings of Emergencies to

communication General Public – provision of messages and immediate information by the
emergency response management bodies to the national and local authorities,
organizations and citizens on the threats of the emergency situations and/or
development of emergencies”
Country have centralized early warning system, considering circumstances that
there are preliminarily defined hazard or risk monitoring bodies who are sharing
urgent/warning information in time between all ministries, Governors offices and
municipal services, so take into account above mentioned information this
centralized early warning system works quite normally but also country faces lack of
technical parameters in this regard and needs more for further improvement.
Emergency Numbers
(police, ambulance,
fire etc.) :
112
1) Agreement between the Government of the republic of Azerbaijan and the
Multilateral
Government of Georgia on cooperation in the area of prevention, mitigation and
agreements,
elimination of consequences caused by natural and man-made disasters
memorandum
(17.07.1997)
2) Agreement between the Government of the republic of Armenia and the
(3.05.1997)
3) Agreement between the Government of the republic of Kazakhstan and the
Government of Georgia on cooperation in the area of emergency management
(18.012002)
4) Agreement between the Government of the republic of Ukraine and the
Government of Georgia on cooperation in the area of emergency management
(17.08.1999)
5) Agreement between the Governments who are members of the “Black Sea
59
Cooperation” (BSEC) about cooperation in the area of emergency management
field (signed in 15.04.1998, in force after 29.09.2004 )
6) Agreement between the black sea coast countries about cooperation in the area
of search and rescue activities on the sea (ratified by Georgia’s parliament in
15.2009)
7) Agreement between the Governments who are members of the GUUAM about
cooperation in the area of emergency management field (signed in 3.07.2003
and ratified by Georgia’s Parliament on 26.10.2004)
8) Agreement between the Government of the republic of Lithuania and the
(26.09.2013)
9) Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the
(3.02.1994)
10) Agreement between the Government of the Jordan Hashemite Kingdom and the
(15.12.2011)
11) Agreement between the Government of the republic of Belarus and the
(11.03.2014)
12) Memorandum of understanding between of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of
Georgia and the Ministry of home front defense of the state of Israel concerning
bilateral cooperation on the field of emergency management and civil protection
(signed 8.05.2013)
P.S Also Emergency Management Agency of MIA cooperates very closely and
flowingly has several memorandums with different authorities inside the country as
well with different NGOs and International organization in the field of civil
protection/emergency management.

Entry into the Names of Specialized border crossing points gives possibility for vehicles entry:
territory: 1) KAZBEGI check point– located North-east part of Georgia
2) RED BRIDGE – located south-east part of Georgia;
3) SADAKHLO – located south-east part of Georgia;
4) NINOTSMINDA check point – located south-central part of Georgia
5) VALE check point – located south-central part of Georgia;
6) SARPI check point located south-west part of Georgia.
Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): Usually search and
rescue dogs should have International passports and vaccination documents
to provide veterinary unit at border crossing point.
Providing Visa at the border crossing point for relief personnel: Ministry of Internal
Affairs provides to issue Visas at the border, in case of any trouble Ministry of
Foreign affairs can be involved to facilitate visa obtain process.
60
Weekend driving bans: No any special weekend driving bans
Season driving bans: N/A – Note: In winter Season some driving restriction
sometime you can face especially on the road connects Georgia with Russian
federation
Road/motorway tolls: No any motorway tolls
Restrictions as regards alcohol consumption while driving: In General No any
milligram of Alcohol is permitted during driving.
Convoy attendance: Ministry of Internal Affairs provide convoying international
rescue teams and humanitarian goods from border to place of destination.
Facilitation of road Civil Protection Contact Point: Emergency management Agency under the
transport operations Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, 0114, Tbilisi G.Gulua street №10
Competent authority concerning request escorts for civil protection convoys:
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
Emergency management Agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of
Georgia, but if international relief assistance comes then need political
decision
for refueling): Tbilisi International airport
Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): search and rescue dogs
should have International passports and vaccination documents to provide
veterinary unit at border crossing point.
Providing Visa at the airport for relief personnel: Ministry of Internal Affairs
provides to issue Visas at the border
Facilitation of Exempt relief goods and equipment’s from all custom duties, taxes, tariffs or any
Customs procedures governmental fees: based on Memorandum of Understanding between NATO
and Georgia all relief goods and equipment do not need to pay any customs
fees.
Availability of customs outside of business hours: Custom services are available
always during peace time as well during emergencies 24/7
Recognition of
qualifications of relief Yes – in case of huge scale disaster when international rescue teams are
personnel (medical coming inside the country Georgia officially recognizes rescuers of relevant
personnel, rescuers, professional qualifications of relief personnel (medical personnel, rescuers,
engineers, etc.) engineers, etc.)
during the
international
assistance operation:
Recognition of all
necessary
certificates and Yes - recognizes foreign countries relevant/such documentations.
qualifications needed
for the conduct of
their work, such as
driver’s license
Any liability for In case of National level emergencies whenever Georgia requests
physical injury, International assistance and flowingly such teams are arrive in (medical,
adverse health search and rescue etc.) to conduct relevant activities – in case of any mistake
effects or death of that can cause death of injured person during assisting time or if because of
any person / property rescuer mistake damaged building will be collapsed he/she will not be judged
damage on your by Georgia’s legislation, so no Any liability for physical injury, adverse health
territory produced effects or death of any person / property damage. But in case of Criminal
with no intention by when laws will work as it is usual for everybody.
61
the relief personnel
of the Sending Nation
during the relief
assumed by:
Regulations and other particular issues regarding the Host Nation Support:
Concept Still Georgia did not implemented EU Host nation support concept in
implemented into the legislation but MOST probably country will have such HNS concept before the
relevant national end of 2014 year.
Legislative basis: Georgia’s law on “civil Safety” considers urgent
requirement or let say obligation to prepare within the 2014 year “normative
Act” which will be approved by Government and where should be clearly
described about Host Nation Support concept – procedures in detail.
support to the
personnel with the
followings:
Entry (Does country provides visa issue facilitation , waiver of taxation on roads, provision
of escort, security, clearing of the roads, etc)
Answer: Yes
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Based on
memorandum of understanding ,,on the facilitation of vital civil border
transport,, all kind of relief and humanitarian goods are free of charge from
customs .
Answer: Yes country will provide in time all necessary access to frequencies,
bandwidth and satellite use.
Command and (Are liaison officers designated for cooperation with the incoming international
Control teams)
Answer: Yes
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: In case of disaster

Emergency Management Agency creates RDC teams. Liaison officer of the
RDC Teams will provide all kind of assistance for incoming international
rescue teams (information, logistic issues.)
Coordination (exists or not procedures for other relevant Ministries involvement in relief reception
Answer: Yes
Security (exist or not appropriate measures in place to keep safe the relief personnel,
locations, goods and equipment related to the international assistance)
Answer: Yes
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Emergency

Management Agency with support of different departments of MINISTRY OF
INTERNAL AFFAIRS provides safety and security for international rescue
teams and for equipment’s.
Answer: In legislation still does not exist any specific information about the
translators for incoming Int. teams – but, anyway generally speak it depends
of number of int. teams number.
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: interpreters will be

involved to provide translation for international teams and for all points:
LEMA, OSOCC, International rescue teams.
List of relevant contacts :
62
Civil Protection body: Postal address: 0114; Tbilisi; Georgia
Emergency Telephone number: (+995 32) 2 41 17 24
Management Agency Fax number: (+995 32) 2 75 21 61
of MIA of Georgia E-mail address: cepgeorgia@mia.gov.ge;
Person of Contact: Mr. Zviad Katsashvili – Director of Agency
emergency/ Postal address: 0114 Tbilisi, Georgia
operational Tel. duty officers working 24/7 : (+995) 32 2 74 62 20; (+995) 32 2 41 18 61; (+995) 577
556201
Fax number: (+995 32) 2 75 21 61; (+995) 32 2 75 20 85
E-mail address: cepgeorgia@mia.gov.ge;
International Postal address: 0114 Tbilisi, Georgia
cooperation Telephone number: (+995) 32 2 41 18 06 ; Mob: +995 577 108 510
Fax number: (+995 32) 2 75 21 61
Office E-mail: cepgeorgia@mia.gov.ge Personal: sh_akhvlediani@hotmail.com
Person of Contact: Mr. Shalva Akhvlediani – Deputy head of Humanitarian affairs
and civil-military cooperation unit of Civil Protection Division of MIA of Georgia
International Postal address: 0114 Tbilisi, Georgia
assistance Telephone number: (+995) 32 2 41 18 06 ; Mob: +995 577 108 510
Fax number: (+995 32) 2 75 21 61
E-mail address: cepgeorgia@mia.gov.ge Personal: sh_akhvlediani@hotmail.com
Person of Contact: Mr. Shalva Akhvlediani – Deputy head of Humanitarian affairs
and civil-military cooperation unit of Civil Protection Division of EMD of MIA of
Georgia
USEFUL WEBPAGES ABOUT GEORGIA:

1) http://www.supremecourt.ge/
2) http://government.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG
3) http://www.parliament.ge/ge/
4) https://www.president.gov.ge/
Other useful links:
Prime Minister of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/GaribashviliOfficial
President of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/Margvelashvili
Parliament of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/parliamentgeo?sk=wall
Government of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/GeorgianGovernment
State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration https://www.facebook.com/EUNATOGOVGE
Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic

Equality https://www.facebook.com/ReintegrationofGeorgia
Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure https://www.facebook.com/mrdi.gov?ref=hl
63
State Ministry on the Diaspora Issues https://www.facebook.com/GeoDiaspora
Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/mes.gov.ge
Ministry of Environment Protection of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/MOEgeorgia
Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occuppied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia
https://www.facebook.com/devniltasaministro
Minister of Economic and Sustainable Development https://www.facebook.com/economypr
Ministry of Finance of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/mofgeorgia
Ministry of Energy of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/minenergygovge
Ministry of Defense of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/mod.gov.ge
Ministry of Justice of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofJusticeofGeorgia
Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/culturegovge
Minister of Sports and Youh Affairs https://www.facebook.com/sport.youth.georgia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/mfageorgia
Ministry of Agriculture https://www.facebook.com/AgricultureGeorgia
Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/mohgovge
64
Ministry of Interior Affairs of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/miaofgeo
Ministry of Corrections and Legal https://www.facebook.com/mcla.gov.official
National Security Council of Georgia http://www.nsc.gov.ge/eng/
Prosecutor's Office of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPOG
Government of Autonomous Republic of Ajara
Ministry of Economy and Finance of Autonomous Republic of Ajara https://www.facebook.com/www.mofea.ge
Government of Abkhazia Autonomous

Republic https://www.facebook.com/GovernmentofAbkhazia?sk=wall&filter=2
National Bank of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/nbg.gov.ge
Statistics Department of Georgia https://www.facebook.com/geostat.ge
Representation of World Bank in Georgia https://www.facebook.com/WorldBankEuropeCentralAsia
International Monetary Fund in Georgia
Millennium Challenge Fund in Georgia https://www.facebook.com/MillenniumChallengeGeorgiaFund
Georgian Stock ExchangeNational Agency of Public Registry https://www.facebook.com/NAPR.gov.ge
Municipal Development Fund Of Georgia https://facebook.com/mdf.org
Electronic Governmental Resources
Office of the Personal Data Protection Inspector
Responder:
PPRD East National Coordinator in GEORGIA - Mr. Georgi Charkviani
Senior specialist, Emergency Management Department of Emergency and Special Measures Center of the
+995322411867
+995577211636
cepgeorgia@mia.gov.ge
65
4.5. REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Basic country information validated on 21/05/2014 by:

Mr. Sergiu GRADINARU, Civil Protection and Emergency Situation Services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
FLAG:
Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in
black with a red beak and talons carr ying a yellow cross in its beak and a
green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left
talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a
stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined
yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with w hich
Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter;
the reverse of the flag does not display any coat of arms.
note: one of the only three national flags that differ on their obverse and
reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia

Head of state: President Nicolae TIMOFTI (since 23 March 2012)
Head of government: Prime Minister Iurie LEANCA (since 25 April 2013)
Capital: Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)
note: pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyev)
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of W ashington, DC during
Standard Time)
Sunday in October
Area: Total: 33,851 sq k m; land: 32,891 sq km; water: 960 sq km
Membership of BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
international GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
organizations: ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC
(NGOs), MIGA, OIF, OPCW , OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI,
UNW TO, UPU, W CO, W HO, W IPO, W MO, W TO
Ethnic groups: Moldovan/Romanian 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz
4.4%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)
Climate: Moderate winters, warm summers
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 940 km
Terrain: Rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea. Landlocked; well
endowed with various sedimentar y rocks and minerals including sand,
gravel, gypsum, and limestone.
Natural hazards: Hydro-meteorological phenomena (hail storms, early frost onset,
droughts, and floods), landslides and seismic hazards (earthquakes).
Environment: Heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as
DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from
poor farming methods.
66
National economy: Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent
progress from its small economic base. W ith its moderate climate and
good farmland, Moldova's economy relies heavily on its agriculture
sector, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. W ith few natural
energy resources, Moldova imports almost all of its energy supplies from
Russia and Ukraine. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy is
underscored by an estimated $4.3 billion debt to Russian natural gas
supplier Gazprom due largely to unreimbursed natural gas consumption in
the separatist Transnistria region. Previous Russian decisions to ban
Moldovan wine and agricultural products, coupled with their decision to
double the price Moldova paid for Russian natural gas and the large debt
continue to hamper economic growth. Moldova also depends heavily on
the annual $1 billion in remittances from the estimated one million
Moldovans working in Europe and former Soviet Bloc countries. During
the global financial crisis in 2009, Moldova experienced a 6% contraction
of its GDP, shrinkage due to increased unemployment and decrease in
remittances. To stabilize the countr y, the IMF allocated $186 million to
Moldova to cover its immediate budgetary needs in the fall of 2009, and
the Moldovan Government agreeing with the IMF to a new program worth
$574 million. In 2010, an upturn in the world economy boosted GDP
growth to about 7% and inflation to more than 7%. Economic reforms
have been slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing
government controls. Nevertheless, the government's primar y goal of EU
integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The granting
of EU trade preferences has encouraged higher growth rates, but the
agreements are unlikely to serve as a panacea, given the extent to which
export success depends on higher quality standards and other factors.
The econom y had modest growth in 2011, expanding by 6.8%. However,
in 2012, with the Euro crisis and a devastating drought, Moldova's GDP
stalled at an estimated 0.3% growth over 2011. Moldova's economic
future remains vulnerable to political uncertainty, weak administrative
capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, higher fuel prices and the
concerns of foreign investors as well as the presence of an illegal
separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region.
(Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/md.html)
MAP OF MOLDOVA:
67
FORM OF GOVERNMENT:
System description: Moldova is a parliamentary republic. The parliament is the supreme legislative body
and elected by the population by general vote. The parliament elects the president,
who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces. Upon a proposal from the
President, parliament approves the candidature of the prime minister. The prime
minister, in turn, proposes for Parliament’s approval candidates for members of
government.
Administrative 32 districts, 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial
divisions and unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
structure: Raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni,
Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni,
Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei,
Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
Municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
Autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
Territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
Available on the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s website, www.msbmyndigheten.se;
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/md.html).

Legal framework: Two fundamental laws regulate the CP system and service:
-The Law 271/1994 “on Civil Protection” that establishes the CP of the Republic of
Moldova, in order to protect people and property from the consequences of
environmental and disasters caused by natural hazards. The Law establishes
principles, rights and obligations of national authorities such as President,
Government, Parliament, Ministries, Ministry of Interior, local authorities and citizens.
In case of event the CP develops and maintains adequate measures and activities
reflected in specific plans and programs. The CP includes: governing bodies,
management bodies, the National Network of Surveillance and Laboratory Testing,
the condition of the environment and potentially dangerous objects, forces and
resources from emergency response, CP training system.
-The Law 93/2007 “on the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service”
(CPESS) establishes the legal framework, principles, functions, duties and rights of
the personnel of the CPESS, as well as the conditions of execution of the
service/work in offices.
The state of emergency is regulated by the Law nr. 212 of the 24.06.2004 "On the
State of Emergency, Martial Law and War” while the Government Resolution 1076 of
16.11.2010 "On the classification of emergency situations and the collection and
presentation of information in the field of population and territory in the event of
emergencies." establishes a common methodology for assessing emergency
situations, delineate zones of emergency situations, the timely notification of the
population, an adequate response, as well as the establishment of order of collection
and presentation of information to the population in the event of emergencies.
 Parliament Decision nr. 1318-XII of 03.02.93 "On the Joining of the Republic of
Moldova to certain international conventions";
 Law nr.271-III from 09.11.1994 on civil protection;
 Law nr. 267 din 09.11.94 on fire protection;
 Law nr. 212 din 24.06.2004 on state of emergency, war and martial law;
 Government Resolution nr. 1340 from 04.12.2001 on the Emergency Situations
Commission of the Republic of Moldova;
 Government Resolution nr. 282 from 14.03.2005 on the approval of the training
Regulation in the field of civil protection;
 Government Resolution nr.1048 from 06.10.2005 on the approval of the Regulation
regarding to the organization of transmissions and notification system in case of
danger or the occurrence of a emergency situation;
 Government Resolution nr. 1076 from 16.11.2010 on the classification of
emergency situations and accumulation mode and presentation of the information in
68
civil protection area;
 Government Resolution nr. 928 from 08.10.2010 on the approval of the
Regulation regarding to organization and performing the state supervision in civil
protection field;
 Government Resolution nr.979 from 05.12.2013 on the Republic of Moldova Civil
protection preparedness measures for 2014.
(Source: Technical Report 4 - Strengthening the Eastern Region's Institutional and Legislative Frameworks;
Technical Working Paper INITIAL ANALYSIS OF CIVIL PROTECTION CAPACITY OF THE PARTNER
COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011).
Civil protection/civil At national level - Overall guidance of Civil protection activities is lays on Government.
defense/civil Government is responsible for defining types and quantities of Civil protection
emergency planning: activities. Government conducts leadership in Civil Protection through the Service of
System overview, Civil Protection and Emergency Situations of the Ministry Internal Affairs.
organization and Moreover, government created Commission on Emergency Situations which
structure responsible for support activities of state executive organs in emergencies. Prime-
minister is head of Commission. Decisions of Commission are mandatory for
execution by all legal and private entities.
At regional level - Heads of Civil Protection in districts are leaders of public
administration bodies
At local level - Heads of Civil Protection in sites and villages are leaders of public
administration bodies.
The Service of Civil Protection and Emergency Situations of the Ministry Internal
Affairs coordinates activities of ministries, other state executive institutions and public
administration bodies on preparedness and emergency response issues.
Civil protection/civil Civil Protection is the system of state measures and activities that conducts in peace
defense/civil and war times with aim to protect population from natural and ecological origin
emergency planning emergencies, incidents, disasters, epizootics and fires.
objectives and tasks: The basic tasks are:
- To protect the population and property in the event of emergencies;
- To coordinate the activities of ministries, departments, public authorities in the area
of civil protection;
- To train and prepare the population to be able to cope with disasters;
- To carry out emergency response, including search and rescue, in the event of
emergencies;
- To mitigate the consequences of natural and manmade disasters.
Civil protection/civil Organizational structure of Civil Protection System include:
defense/civil - Command and control structures;
emergency planning - National Network of Monitoring and Laboratorial Control for Environment and
organizational Potentially Dangerous Objects
structure: - Detachments and recourses;
- Educational and training system.
PARTNER COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011).
Civil-military Ministry of Defense (MoD) cooperates with CPESS within the framework of the
cooperation: Contingency Plan for Cooperation. This Plan also includes cooperation of CPESS
with other parts of the armed forces that, in accordance with the Law “On Civil
Protection” and the Decision of the National Commission for Emergency Situations,
are currently under the coordination of CPESS. The Plan is designed to coordinate
activities in the event of emergencies within the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
(Source: Technical Report 4 - Strengthening the Eastern Region's Institutional and Legislative Frameworks)
External Several donors and international partners support development of DM system in

stakeholders: Moldova – UNDP, OSCE, and the World Bank etc. DM issues started to be regularly
addressed by the donors only after floods in 2010.
Volunteers: In according to the legislation, volunteer fire-fighting organizations should
be created on each enterprise which has 15 or more workers
69
NGOs: NGO have the right to participate in the action of CP assistance of the victims.
Experts and other persons can establish special community organization to meet the
objective of CP (Law on CP).
COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011Civil Protection capacity analysis)
Disaster Relief
70
Available Human and

Material Resources
The diagram presented below reflects the available resources in case of state of emergency
Early warning and 1. Warning about threat or emergency situations is a timely delivery of such
communication information to the central public authorities, civil protection forces, and population.
2. Warning about the threat or emergency situations is provided by:
-centralized automated warning systems about threats or emergencies at the
national, regional, local and objective levels;
-use of centralized telecommunication networks, including mobile
communication, departmental telecommunications networks and private
telecommunications networks in the manner prescribed by legislation of Republic of
Moldova, as well as networks of national, regional and local radio and television and
other technical means of information transmission (reflection);
-automation of the process of the signals and messages about threats or
emergencies transmission ;
-operation of automated early detection and warning systems at the highly
hazardous facilities.
(Source: Government Regulation nr. 1048 from 06.10.2006 on approval the Regulation on the organization of
notification and transmission system in case of danger or occurrence of an emergency situation)
71
Early warning systems Service of Civil Protection is responsible for reparation and distribution of information
towards professionals on:
- Current, previous emergencies and consequences;
- Threats of emergencies;
- Fire- , chemical - , radiation safety;
- Medical - , biological – safety;
- Engineer protection.
Early warning systems Public Authority is responsible for information of population through media.
towards the population Communication to population during emergency is defined by the Law (Government
Resolution 1076 of 16.11.2010 “On the classification of emergency situations and
methodologies about information to population and territory in case of emergency
situation”).
Public information Information to the public refers to emergency management phase. (Law “On Civil
system Protection” Art. 1, 2 and 3: notify the governing bodies and the population of the
country and the threat of an emergency situation).
information Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Emergency Numbers In December 2008 the Concept of a United National System of Emergency Response
(SNUAU) was presented to the Government. It represents a comprehensive complex
of measures developed to upgrade the current communication system in the country
and to adjust it to the European system with the introduction of single emergency
number 112 for all services; however, due to various reasons, its full implementation
is still pending.
Other emergency numbers
901 — Fire and Rescue;
902 — Police;
903 — Ambulance
-Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the

Republic of Moldova on cooperation and mutual assistance during disasters, signed
on 3 March 2012, Iasi, Romania.
-Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Belarus on
cooperation in prevention and liquidation of consequences of emergency situations,
signed on 20 November 2006, Chisinau, Moldova.
-Agreement between the Government of Republic of Moldova and the Cabinet of
Ministers of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of industrial accidents, catastrophes,
disasters caused by natural hazard and liquidation of their consequences, signed on 4
August 1998, Kiev, Ukraine.
-Agreement between the Government of Republic of Moldova and the Government of
the Russian Federation on cooperation in CP, prevention of industrial accidents,
disasters caused by natural hazard and liquidation of their consequences, signed on
14 February 1995, Chisinau, Moldova;
Multilateral
agreements, MOUs,
Protocols of
cooperation, etc.
-Agreement on mutual assistance in case of accidents and other emergencies of the
Member States of Commonwealth of Independent States, signed on 30 May 2002,
Moscow, Russian Federation.
-Agreement on cooperation of CIS Member States during the evacuation of their
nationals from third countries in case of emergencies, signed on 12 April 1996,
Moscow, Russian Federation.
-Agreement on cooperation in prevention and liquidation of consequences of
emergency situations of natural and technological nature of the CIS countries signed
on 22 January 1993, Minsk, Belarus.
-Agreement on the exchange of information on emergencies of natural and
technological character, signed on 18 September 2003, Yalta, Russian Federation.
-Agreement between the Government of Republic of Moldova and the United Nations
72
on measures to speed up the import, export and transit of humanitarian personnel
and assets aid in disaster and emergency situations, signed on 17 September 1999,
Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
-Agreement between the Governments of member countries of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on assistance in liquidation consequences of natural
and technological emergencies, signed on 15 April 1998, Sochi, Russian Federation.
-Memorandum of Understanding on the Institutional Framework of Disaster
Preparedness Initiative and their Prevention in South-Eastern Europe, signed on 24
September 2007, Zagreb, Croatia.
-Open Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe / EUR-OPA Major Hazards.
COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011Civil Protection capacity analysis)
Legal framework applicable for incoming international assistance is covered by:
-Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the United
Nations on measures to speed up the import, expert and transit of humanitarian
personnel and assets to grant aid in disaster and emergency situations, signed on 17
September 1999, being primarily applicable for UN operations and covering border
crossing and customs procedures.
-Bilateral agreements with Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and Ukraine
-Law nr. 1491 of 28 November 2002 on humanitarian aid offered to Moldova, covering
provisions for the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance, including
assistance provided in connection with disasters.
-Government Decision nr. 663 of 03 June 2003 approving the Regulation on
humanitarian aid offered to Moldova, stipulating the implementing measures of the
law on humanitarian aid under point 3 above.
-Government Decision nr. 653 of 02 June 2003 on the Interdepartmental Commission
for Humanitarian Aid setting up the Interdepartmental Commission for Humanitarian
Aid to ensure the effective distribution of humanitarian aid and the information
channel in between donors and recipients. A list of goods that are prohibited to be
transported in Moldova as humanitarian assistance is also annexed to this decision.
-Government decision nr. 1148 of 22 September 2003 on model regulation of the
territorial commissions for humanitarian aid, regulating the roles and responsibilities of
the territorial (regional) bodies of the Commission for Humanitarian Aid in terms of
needs assessment and the distribution of aid.
-Government decision nr. 1076 of 16 November 2010 on emergency situation
classification and on collecting and presenting information in case of emergency
situations establishing a uniform methodology to assess emergency situations,
defining emergency areas and early warning of the populations as well as setting
information management structures for the events of emergencies.
The Service of Civil Protection and Emergency Situations within the Ministry of the
Interior is responsible to collect, compile and submit information to the Government
about any emergency or the imminent threat thereof as well as for all measures to
prevent and / or eliminate the consequences of disasters.
The Commission for Humanitarian Aid is the primarily responsible body to decide on
the acceptance of international aid, to maintain contact with international donors and
to distribute the goods received. Its territorial commissions have a great role in
assessing the situation on site and distributing aid locally.
Other bodies that may have an effect on the management and coordination of
international assistance are
-The Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family, having a role in the
coordination and distribution of international assistance and in needs assessment
-The Specialized Commission of the Ministry of Health, advising on the import of
73
medicines, medical supplies and devices
-Emergency Situations Commission
The overall coordination of disaster management is ensured by the Emergency
Situations Commission, organized on different territorial levels and having its
members from different public authorities.
As regards the integration of international assistance with the national coordination
structures, no legal framework or any standard operating procedures are in place. On
the other hand, it is a functioning practice to appoint a liaison officer for the incoming
international teams according to the INSARAG Guidelines. There are no pools of
experts or any special training. There is a list of persons with experience in disaster
management and coordination and who are also English speakers.

Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): SAR dogs are reportedly
fall under the term “humanitarian assistance” as specified in Law nr. 1491 on
humanitarian assistance provided to Moldova and therefore the above
mentioned provisions concerning expeditious entry apply. They have to be
accompanied with veterinary certificates and in case of need, additional
examinations cannot be excluded before entry, though this is not common
practice.
Providing Visa at the border crossing point for relief personnel: That is possible if
there is a Government Decision
Circulation into the Daylight driving restrictions: 90 km/h at intercity roads, in some cases according
territory: to road signals it can be 110km/h; inside cities - 50 km/h, some sectors
according to road signals can be - 80 km/h.
Night driving restrictions: NO other
Weekend driving bans: NO other
Season driving bans: NO other
(Source: Section 3 from Road Traffic Regulation of the Republic of Moldova)
Convoy attendance: Ministry of Internal Affairs can provide escort for
international relief teams
Facilitation of road Civil Protection Contact Point: Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service
transport operations Republican Operative Dispatch Center (24 hours /7 days)
Tel:+373 22 73-85-45
Fax: +373 22 73-85-69
International Cooperation Division:
Tel: +373 22 73 85 06
e-mail: dse@dse.md
Competent authority concerning request escorts for civil protection convoys: Ministry
of Internal Affairs.
for refueling): N/A
74
Customs procedures governmental fees: Yes (if such relief goods were approved as humanitarian aid
or if there is a special Government Decision).
Yes (if such relief goods were approved as humanitarian aid or if there is a
special Government Decision).
Simplify and minimize documentation requirements for export, transit and import: Yes
(if such relief goods were approved as humanitarian aid or if there is a special
Government Decision).
Simplified border crossing procedures are applied according to the Agreement
between the Republic of Moldova and the United Nations to speed up the
import, export and transit of humanitarian personnel and assets in disaster and
emergency situations, which covers UN operations. The Law nr. 1491 on
humanitarian assistance provided to Moldova stipulates that custom controls
are performed in accordance with existing laws, providing clearance for
humanitarian aid as priority. Standard forms are reportedly established to
facilitate border crossing / immigration and customs procedures for incoming /
outgoing relief teams / consignments. Adequate certificates are requested in
case of imported medication and SAR dogs.
Availability of customs outside of business hours: Yes
Facilitation of aerial Civil Protection Contact Point: Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service
N/A
Recognition of Yes
qualifications of Legal basis: Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the United
relief personnel Nations to speed up the import, export and transit of humanitarian personnel
(medical personnel, and assets in disaster and emergency situations, which covers UN operations.
etc) during the
international
Recognition of all Yes
necessary
certificates and Legal basis: Road Traffic Regulation of the Republic of Moldova
qualifications
needed for the
conduct of their
work, such as
driver’s license
physical injury, or
property damage on
produced with no
personnel of the
Sending Nation
during the relief
assumed by:
75
relevant national Legal basis: Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the United
legislation in force Nations to speed up the import, export and transit of humanitarian personnel
and assets in disaster and emergency situations, which covers UN operations.
Law nr. 1491 on humanitarian assistance provided to Moldova
support to the This kind of support will be provided to the International relief personnel
international relief through a Government Decision.
personnel with the
followings
of the roads, etc)
Yes / No: N/A
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Security is assumed by
the host nation, while incoming foreign teams are expected to ensure own
safety measure for their operations.
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: In principle, Moldova
expects disaster relief teams to be self-sufficient for 3-7 days. Yet, it can
provide lodging and water free of charge, food, electricity and fuel against
payment. Most of the above services and commodities are provided or arranged
for through private companies by the Civil Protection and Emergency
Situations Service. In case of contracts for value, the cash and bank cards are
the accepted payment methods.
Yes / No: N/A
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Administrative and
office support as well as translation services and inland transport are available
free of charge, but no technical or ITC support.
civil protection Postal address: MD-2028, mun. Chişinău, str. Gh. Asachi, 69
Telephone number: +373 22 73 85 45
Fax number: + 373 22 73 85 69
E-mail address: sef.dpc@dse.md
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Mr. Alexandru
Oprea - Head of Civil Protection Directorate
emergency / Postal address: MD-2028, mun. Chişinău, str. Gh. Asachi, 69
operational Telephone number: + 373 22 73 85 51; +373 22 73 85 45
76
Fax number: + 373 22 73 85 69
E-mail address: do@dse.md , sdo.do@dse.md
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Mr. Ghenadie
Barbu - Head of General Directorate of Planning, Coordination and Operations
International Postal address: MD-2028, mun. Chişinău, str. Gh. Asachi, 69
cooperation Telephone number: +373 22 73 85 06
Fax number: + 373 22 73 85 69
E-mail address: international@dse.md
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Ms. Svetlana
Drobot - Head of International Relations Division
International Postal address: MD-2028, mun. Chişinău, str. Gh. Asachi, 69
assistance Telephone number: +373 22 73 85 06
Fax number: + 373 22 73 85 69
E-mail address: N/A
Responder:
PPRD East National Programme Coordinator in the Republic of MOLDOVA - Mr. Sergiu Gradinaru,
Specialist, Operational Division, Specialist Civil Protection and Emergency Situation Services of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs
+373 79384146
+373 68733763
sergiu_gradinaru@yahoo.com
77
4.6. UKRAINE
Basic country information validated on 21.04.2014 by

Mr. Oleg Pinskyi, Deputy Head, International Cooperation Department, State Emergency Service
FLAG:
Description: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow
represent grain fields under a blue sk y

Head of state: President: Acting President – Head of the Parliament Mr. Oleksandr
Turchinov. The permanent President will be elected in May 2014.
Head of government: Prime Minister: Mr. Arsenii Yatseniuk
Capital: Kyiv (Kiev); note: pronounced KAY-yiv
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of W ashington, DC during
Standard Time)
Sunday in October
Area: Total: 603,550 sq km; land: 579,330 sq km; water: 24,220 sq km
Membership of Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CICA (observer),
international CIS (participating member, has not signed the 1993 CIS charter although
organizations: it participates in meetings), EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,
ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG,
OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW , OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNW TO,
UPU, W CO, W FTU (NGOs), W HO, W IPO, W MO, W TO, ZC
Ethnic groups: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%,
Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%,
Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census)
Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox -
Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian
Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Protestant 2.2%,
Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2% (2006 est.)
Climate: Temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean
coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and
north, lesser in east and southeast; winters var y from cool along the
Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater
part of the country, hot in the south
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and
Moldova in the west and Russia in the east
border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungar y 103 km, Moldova 940 km,
Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 176 km, Romania (southwest) 362 km,
Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km
Coastline 2,782 km
Terrain: Most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus,
78
mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the
Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south
Land use: arable land: 53.85%; permanent crops: 1.48%; other: 44.67% (2011)
Natural hazards: Snowfalls, raising water level in rivers due to snow melting, heavy rains,
landslides, droughts, wind storms.
Environment: Inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution;
deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986
accident at Chernobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
National economy: After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was the most important economic
component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the
output of the next-rank ing republic. Its fertile black soil generated more
than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided
substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other
republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique
equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to
industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of
the former USSR. Shortly after independence in August 1991, the
Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal
framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within
the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to
some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the
1991 level. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the
lack of significant structural reform have made the Ukrainian economy
vulnerable to external shocks. Ukraine depends on imports to meet about
three-fourths of its annual oil and natural gas requirements and 100% of
its nuclear fuel needs. After a two-week dispute that saw gas supplies
cutoff to Europe, Ukraine agreed to 10- year gas supply and transit
contracts with Russia in Januar y 2009 that brought gas prices to "world"
levels. The strict terms of the contracts have further hobbled Ukraine's
cash-strapped state gas company, Naftohaz. Outside institutions -
particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and
scope of reforms to foster economic growth. Ukrainian Government
officials eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005
budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large
shadow econom y, but more improvements are needed, including fighting
corruption, developing capital markets, and improving the legislative
framework. Ukraine's economy was buoyant despite political turmoil
between the prime minister and president until mid-2008. Real GDP
growth exceeded 7% in 2006-07, fueled by high global prices for steel -
Ukraine's top export - and by strong domestic consumption, spurred by
rising pensions and wages. A drop in steel prices and Ukraine's exposure
to the global financial crisis due to aggressive foreign borrowing lowered
growth in 2008. Ukraine reached an agreement with the IMF for a $16.4
billion Stand-By Arrangement in November 2008 to deal with the
economic crisis, but the program quickly stalled due to the Ukrainian
Government's lack of progress in implementing reforms. The economy
contracted nearly 15% in 2009, among the worst economic performances
in the world. In April 2010, Ukraine negotiated a price discount on
Russian gas imports in exchange for extending Russia's lease on its
naval base in Crimea. In August 2010, Ukraine, under the YANUKOVYCH
Administration, reached a new agreement with the IMF for a $15.1 billion
Stand-By Agreement. Economic growth resumed in 2010 and 2011,
buoyed by exports. After initial disbursements, the IMF program stalled in
early 2011 due to the Ukrainian Government's lack of progress in
implementing key gas sector reforms, namely gas tariff increases.
Economic growth slowed in the second half of 2012 with Ukraine finishing
the year in technical recession following two consecutive quarters of
negative growth.
79
(Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/up.html)
MAP OF UKRAINE:
FORM OF GOVERNMENT:
System description: The Constitution of Ukraine stipulates that the president is the head of
state. He guarantees sovereignty, territorial unity, leadership of the
constitution, and the rights and freedom of the people and the citizens.
Ukrainian citizens elect the president for 5 years on equit y of the vote.
The president cannot be elected for more than 2 terms w ithout a break.
The Unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats), under
recent amendments to Ukraine’s election law, the Rada’s seats are
allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% or more of
the national electoral vote; members serve terms of five- years beginning
with the March 2006 election.
The Ukrainian Constitution and laws set out the rights of the People’s
Deputies.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (the Ukrainian Government) is the
highest Body of executive power in Ukraine. It acts in accordance with
the constitution, the laws of Ukraine and the president’s decrees. The
Cabinet of Ministers is selected by the prime minister; the only
exceptions are the foreign and defense ministers, who are chosen by the
president. The government is amenable to the President of Ukraine,
controlled by the Verkhovna Rada. The president appoints and dismisses
the prime minister on the agreement of Verkhovna Rada. The president
appoints and dismisses ministers on proposals from the Prime Minister.
Administrative 24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic*
divisions and (avtonomna respublik a), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular - misto)
structure: with oblast status**; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea or
Avtonomna Respublika Kr ym* (Simferopol'), Dnipropetrovs'k, Donets'k,
Ivano-Frankivs'k, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmel'nyts'k yy, Kirovohrad, Kyiv**,
Kyiv, Luhans'k, L'viv, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol'**,
Sumy, Ternopil', Vinnytsya, Volyn' (Luts'k), Zakarpattya (Uzhhorod),
Zaporizhzhya, Zhytomyr
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name
following in parentheses)
Available on the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s website, www.msbmyndigheten.se;
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gg.html).

Legal framework: The “Code of Civil Protection of Ukraine”, approved on 2nd October
2012, which is providing the legislative basis on matter of CP. As the
80
most recent Law regulating the civil protection area, the Code introduced
a general reorganization of CP, clarifying the previous legislative
framework.
(Source: Code of Civil Protection of Ukraine, http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5403-17)
Civil protection/civil Implementation of the state policy in the field of civil protection is performed by the
defense/civil unified state civil protection system, which consists of functional and territorial
emergency planning: subsystems and their branches.
System overview, Management of the Unified State Civil Protection System is carried out by the Cabinet
organization and of Ministers of Ukraine.
structure Direct management of the unified state civil protection system is carried by the State
Emergency System of Ukraine.
Unified State Civil Protection System consists of permanent functional and territorial
subsystems and their branches.
Functional subsystems of the Unified State Civil Protection System (hereinafter - the
functional subsystems ) are created in the relevant areas of social life by the central
executive authorities for the protection of population and territories from emergency
situations in peacetime and in times of crisis, preparedness of the subordinated
capabilities and assets to act for preventing and responding to emergencies.
To ensure the management of everyday functioning of the administration and civil
protection forces, coordinate their actions, implementation and operation of systems
for collecting, processing, compilation and analysis of the situation in the areas of
emergency function there are:
1) at the state level : operational-duty service; operational-duty (duty and dispatcher)
service of central authorities (in the case of creation);
2) at the regional level: operational duty services of management points of the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea, regional, Kyiv and Sevastopol city state
administrations;
3) at the local level: duty services of district administrations and executive bodies of
city councils;
4) at the site level - duty (dispatcher) services of enterprises, institutions and
organizations (in the case of education).
Civil protection/civil Main tasks of the civil protection system:
defense/civil 1) preparedness of ministries and other central and local executive authorities,
emergency planning subordinated forces and means of action to prevent and respond to emergencies;
objectives and tasks: 2) implementation of measures to prevent emergencies;
3) education of population how to act in the event of an emergency;
4) implementation of national target programs aimed at the prevention of disasters,
sustainable operation of enterprises, institutions and organizations to mitigate the
potential financial losses;
5) processing of emergency information, publication of information materials on
protection of population and territories from emergency situations;
6) prognosis and assessment of socio-economic consequences of emergencies,
identification based on the prognosis of demand for forces, assets, material and
financial resources;
7) creation, management, preservation and use of reserve material and financial
resources needed to prevent and respond to emergencies;
8) alerting the public about threats and emergencies, timely and accurate information
on the actual situation and the measures taken;
9) protection in the event of emergencies ;
10) rescue and other urgent works on disaster relief organization lifelines affected
people;
11) mitigate the potential consequences of emergency situations should they arise;
12 ) implementation of measures for the social protection of the affected population ;
13) implementation of the specified legal rights in protecting people from the
consequences of emergencies, including individuals ( or their families) who were
directly involved in the elimination of these situations;
14) other tasks stipulated by law.
81
Civil protection/civil The structure of the civil protection forces of the unified state civil protection system
defense/civil are:
emergency planning - Operational-rescue service of civil protection (functions in the State Emergency
organizational Service of Ukraine);
structure: - emergency-rescue services;
- formations of civil protection;
- specialized civil protection services;
- fire-fighting and rescue units (squads);
- voluntary formations of civil protection.
(Source: Code of Civil Protection of Ukraine, http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5403-17).
Civil-military The involvement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations and
cooperation: law enforcement agencies, which are formed under the laws of Ukraine for
emergencies management:
1. For emergencies management in accordance with the law may be involved the
Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military formations and law enforcement agencies of
special purpose, formed under the laws of Ukraine.
2. Terms of involvement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations
and law enforcement agencies of special purpose, formed under the laws of Ukraine
for emergencies management determined in accordance with the Constitution of
Ukraine and laws of Ukraine "On the legal status of emergency state", "The Armed
Forces of Ukraine " and other laws.
(Source: Code of Civil Protection of Ukraine, http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5403-17).
External NATO, EU (PPRD East), OSCE.

stakeholders:
Internal stakeholders Private sector:
The private and business sector are responsible for:
- fulfillment of civil protection activities at the site of the entity;
- provision of its employees with the individual personal protection equipment;
- dissemination of information about safety and appropriate behavior in the event of
an accident;
- organization and implementation during emergencies of evacuation measures for
personnel and property of the entity;
- creation of on-site civil protection units in accordance with this Code of Civil
Protection and other legislative acts necessary for their operation, creation of
logistics bade and ensuring preparedness of units to fulfill their duties;
- establishment of dispatching services to ensure the safety of high-risk;
- to assess the risk of emergencies on the site of the entity, taking relevant measures
of risks reduction;
- developing plans for localization of the accident of high risk;
- exercising at their own expense of civilian protection activities, reducing the risk of
disasters etc.
Volunteers:
Voluntary formation of civil protection is a temporary voluntary association of citizens,
resulting from the threat or occurrence of emergencies, whose task is to perform the
support work.
Voluntary formation of civil protection are to be created by the decision of the central
executive body, by the decision of Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of
Crimea, local state administrations, local authorities.
The procedures of involvement of voluntary formations and scope of support work to
be performed are determined by the body that created such formation or by the
leader of emergency response operation if such formation is subordinated to him.
NGOs: NGOs with an appropriate level of training can be involved on a voluntary or
contractual basis to work on prevention and emergency response, in the presence of
supervisors (Code of CP, Art. 29).
82
Disaster Relief
CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEM OF UKRAINE
President of Ukraine
National Security and

Parliament of Ukraine
Defence Council
Prime Minister of Ukraine –
Head of Civil Protection System
of Ukraine
State Commission on
Special Governmental Commission
technological-ecological
(in separate cases)
and emergency situations
Центральні
Центральніоргани
органивиконавчої
виконавчоївлади
влади
Центральні органи виконавчої влади
Central executive authorities
Minister – head of civil protection of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
authority
Civil protection unit State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Council of Ministers of Crimea
Republic, State Regional
Administrations , Kyiv and
Sevastopol (Head of civil protection –
органивиконавчої
виконавчої влади
влади
Head of Council of Ministers of
Центральні органи виконавчої влади
Management bodies of Central 3 Special rapid response centres Crimea Republic, Regional (local)
executive bodies in Crimea, Regions, 27 Main Departments (Departments) Special aviation unit State Administrations
Kyiv and Sevastopol of SESU in Crimea, Regions, Kyiv
Special maritime unit
and Sevastopol Civil Protection Unit
Training Centre
Civil Protection Unit
Communication unit
4 Mining rescue units
Центральні органивиконавчої
органи виконавчоївлади
виконавчої влади
влади
Special purpose emergency rescue units Communal emergency-rescue services,
Ministerial emergency-rescue on-site services, public organizations,
services of Central executive bodies,, Fire-fighting brigades in cities, districts
and at potentially hazardous facilities local population
specialized units
Management Coordination 1
83
Available Human and

Material Resources
Elimination of the consequences of

emergencies
Central government Governmental Local executive
authorities Commission authorities
Operation&Coordination Executive Officer

Center of
Territorial Department Staff office Special
Operational Commission
Group
Enterprises,
institutions
Alert Period Prearranged Period
1st echelon (to 40 min) 2nd echelon (to 2 hours) 3rd echelon (reserve)
Recovery Actions
Mobile Maintenance
SAR Units Additional funds
operational groups for SAR work and of life-supports objects
other urgent activities
Divisions on Regional Units
Life-support for people
Duty of the SESoU
suffered from disaster
Additional funds and
Formation of services for maintenance
Formation Coordination
permanent readiness
of local SAR Services and supply of recovery works
of special services CP
Early warning and 1. Warning about threat or emergency situations is a timely delivery of such
communication information to the authorities of civil protection, civil protection forces, businesses and
public.
2. Warning about the threat or emergency situations is provided by:
-centralized automated warning systems about threats or emergencies at the
national, regional, local and objective levels;
-use of centralized telecommunication networks, including mobile
communication, departmental telecommunications networks and telecommunications
networks of businesses in the manner prescribed by the Cabinet of Ministers of
Ukraine , as well as networks of national, regional and local radio and television and
other technical means of information transmission (reflection);
-automation of the process of the signals and messages about threats or
emergencies transmission ;
-operation of automated early detection and warning systems at the highly
hazardous facilities;
-operation in populated areas and public places of loudspeaker devices and
electronic information displays to display the information on civil protection.
3. Setting up the signal loudspeakers and electronic information displays is the
responsibility of local authorities, businesses. Place for setting up the signal
loudspeakers and electronic information displays are determined by local authorities,
businesses.
4. The procedure of warning on a threat or emergency situations and organization of
communication in the field of civil protection established by the regulations approved
by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
84
Early warning systems The Code of CP mentions the importance of a harmonized telecommunication system
towards professionals with special regards to timely alerts notification (article 30). In particular it foresees the
existence of automated centralized and local early detection and warning systems,
the use of central and local telecommunication networks (including mobile
communications), involving also mass media. The procedure of notification of a threat
or emergency is established by the regulations approved by the Cabinet of Ministers
of Ukraine. Detailed aspects are covered in a specific Law “On approval of the
organization of alert notification and communication in emergencies” (Act N°192,
15.02.1999).
Permanent communication between SES and the EU MIC – now ERCC has been
established, especially about early warning and updated information on cross-border
emergencies in the territories of the Member States and Ukraine. SES receives from
the ERCC information on emergency man-made and disasters caused by natural
hazard that occurred in the territory of the Member States and other neighboring
countries. (Technical Report 4 - Strengthening the Eastern Region's Institutional and
Legislative Frameworks).
Early warning systems The Act № 192 of February 15, 1999, “On approval of the organization of alert
towards the population notification and communication in emergencies”, adopted by Cabinet of Ministers of
Ukraine deals with the Standard Operation Procedures for alerting the population in
the case of an imminent threat. (Source: Technical Report 4 - Strengthening the
Eastern Region's Institutional and Legislative Frameworks).
Public information 1. Information on civil protection is information about emergencies that are projected
system or emerged defining its classification, spreading limits and consequences, as well as
the ways and methods of protection against them.
2. Civil protection management bodies are obliged to provide to the population
through the media the operational and reliable information as mentioned in the first
paragraph above, as well as on its activities on civil protection.
3. Information should include data on the subject that provides information, and the
scope of its activities, the nature of the possible risk during accidents, including the
impact on people and the environment, on the way to inform the public in case of
threat or occurrence of the accident and the behavior which should be followed.
4. Delivery of the information of the consequences of an emergency is carried out
according to the legislation about information.
Operative
information
Emergency Numbers A single emergency number (112) at national level has been established. (Its
complete implementation is foreseen for 2016, at the latest).
Other emergency numbers: 101 – Emergency call number. 102 – Police call number.
103 – Ambulance call number.
Bilateral agreements 1. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Russian Federation on
cooperation in the prevention of industrial accidents, natural disasters and elimination
of their consequences April 23, 1997 in Moscow Unlimited;
2. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Kyrgyz
Republic on cooperation in civil defense, emergency situations and liquidation of their
consequences October 16, 1997 in Bishkek Unlimited;
3. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova on

cooperation in the prevention of industrial accidents, natural disasters and elimination
of their consequences August 4, 1998 in Kyiv Unlimited;
4. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the
Republic of Hungary on cooperation and mutual assistance in emergency situations
and liquidation of their consequences October 27, 1998 in Budapest Unlimited;
5. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the executive power of
Georgia on Cooperation in the field of prevention of industrial accidents, natural
disasters and elimination of their consequences. December 7, 1998 in Tbilisi
unlimited;
85
Republic of Kazakhstan on cooperation in emergency situations and liquidation of
their consequences September 17, 1999 in Kiev Unlimited;
Hellenic Republic on Cooperation in the field of prevention of industrial accidents,
natural disasters and emergency response February 21, 2000 in Athens Unlimited;
Republic of Belarus on cooperation in the field of emergency prevention and
response July 7, 2000 in Minsk 28.11.2002 Unlimited;
9. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Slovak
Republic on cooperation and mutual assistance in case of emergencies . December
5, 2000 in Bratislava Unlimited;
Republic of Armenia on Cooperation in the field of emergency prevention and
response March 1, 2001 in Kiev Unlimited;
Republic of Poland on cooperation and mutual assistance in the prevention of
accidents, natural disasters and other emergencies and response
July 19, 2002 in Warsaw Unlimited;
Republic of Azerbaijan on cooperation in the field of emergency prevention and
response August 29, 2002 in Baku 22.05.2003 Unlimited;
Republic of Lithuania on Cooperation in the field of emergency prevention and
response June 5, 2003 Unlimited;
Republic of Tajikistan on cooperation in the prevention of disasters and mitigation
December 6, 2005 Unlimited;
Republic of Latvia in the field of prevention of disasters and mitigation April 27, 2006
in Riga, Unlimited;
16. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of emergency prevention
and mitigation April 26, 2007 in Tashkent, Unlimited;
17. Agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Cabinet of
Ministers of Ukraine on mutual assistance and cooperation in the field of civil
protection October 7, 2010 in Paris, Unlimited;
18. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Russian Federation on
cooperation for emergency situations, fire and emergency response in the locality in
which objects of Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine July 12, 2012 in Yalta Unlimited;
19. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Russian Federation on
cooperation in aviation search and rescue July 12, 2012 in Yalta Unlimited;
20. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Mongolia
on cooperation in the field of emergency prevention and response June 29, 2011 in
Kiev, Unlimited;
21. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Japan on
cooperation in improving post-accident emergency response to nuclear power April
18, 2012 in Tokyo, Unlimited;
22. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of
Montenegro on cooperation in protection against natural and other disasters signed
June 13, 2012 Unlimited;
86
Multilateral
agreements, MOUs,
Protocols of
cooperation, etc.
1. Framework Convention on Assistance in the field of civil protection ( UN) Unlimited
10.07.2001;
2. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Ukraine of Emergencies
and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl disaster
and the UN Development Programme on Cooperation in disaster risk reduction and
rapid recovery of October 30, 2009 in Kiev Unlimited;
3. Hyogo Framework for Action Programme 2005-2015 22 January 2005;
4. Memorandum of Understanding for Civil Emergency Planning and Disaster
Preparedness between the Ministry of Ukraine of Emergencies and Affairs of
Population Protection from the Consequences of Chernobyl Catastrophe and NATO
done December 16, 1997. Unlimited;
5. Memorandum of Understanding on vital civil cross border transport (NATO), done 6
October 2008 Unlimited;
6. Administrative arrangement between the Ministry of Ukraine of Emergencies and
Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chernobyl disaster
(MOE) and the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission on
cooperation between MOE Operational-Rescue Service and Monitoring and
Information Centre of the Community Civil Protection Mechanism December 8, 2008
in Brussels Unlimited;
7. Agreement between the Governments of the countries - participants of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation ( BSEC) on cooperation in emergency assistance and
emergency resulting from natural and manmade disasters, April 15, 1998 Unlimited;
8. Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the governments of the member
states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on cooperation in emergency
assistance and emergencies elimination resulting from natural and manmade
disasters, signed October 20, 2005;
9. Agreement between the Governments of the States - GUUAM on cooperation in
the field of emergency prevention and response signed July 4, 2003 Unlimited.
10. Agreement on cooperation in the prevention and mitigation of natural and man-
made disasters (CIS) signed December 9, 1994 Unlimited
11. Agreement on cooperation of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the
event of evacuation of citizens from third countries in case of emergency Signed
March 12, 1996 Ratified Unlimited;
12. Agreement on exchange of information on emergency situations of natural and
man-made disasters on information interaction in emergency response and
assistance to the affected population (CIS) signed September 18, 2003 Unlimited;
13. Agreement on prevention and suppression of natural fires in the border areas of
the Commonwealth of Independent States signed May 13, 2013.
COUNTRIES “Together Against Disasters” October 2011)
All legal, organizational, social aspects of reception, delivery, arrangement,
distribution and control over the usage of international assistance are defined
by the Law of Ukraine on humanitarian aid.
Since 2013 there have been a number of important changes that regulate
humanitarian assistance, among them - the elimination of the Commission on
Humanitarian Aid of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. According to the Decree of
the President of Ukraine “On Amendments to the Regulations of the Ministry of Social
Policy of Ukraine " dated 01.02.2013 № 51 , the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine is
the specially authorized central executive agency for humanitarian aid.
87
In addition, under the Law of Ukraine "On humanitarian aid"
(http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1192-14) to the list of specially authorized
state bodies for humanitarian assistance include: the central executive body that
implements the state policy in the field of social protection (Ministry of Social Policy of
Ukraine), the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , regional
administrations, Kyiv and Sevastopol city administrations.
The legislation contains a clear requirement for any registered public or religious
organization, that it should be legalized and become legal entities in government. This
entity should also always be incorporated in the Single Register of recipients of
humanitarian aid.
The next step is to collect the necessary documents. When an organization agrees to
receive humanitarian assistance, then it must provide written consent to receive such
assistance. The above mentioned documents for humanitarian assistance should be
submitted to the central executive authority at the place of proper recognition for
humanitarian aid.
Logistical preparedness (i.e. availability of needed resources) to receive international
assistance is a responsibility of regional /local administrations.
Humanitarian aid is subject matter of priority, a free and simplified customs

declaration obligatory. It is necessary to put a stamp "Humanitarian aid" in the
shipping documents and cargo declaration. Delivery of humanitarian aid is usually
done after passing its sanitary, eco and radiological control which is free of charge.
Law of Ukraine "On humanitarian aid" stipulates that the customs authorities must
ensure prompt and free customs clearance of humanitarian aid, and to ensure their
integrity during their crossing.
The Ministry of Incomes and Fees (tax office) implements control over the use of
humanitarian aid by the organization as intended. Therefore, it is necessary to
maintain the accounts of humanitarian aid and the corresponding statements that are
made recipients of humanitarian aid and its recipients.

Entry into the Specialized border crossing points (e.g. access only for trucks etc): there are about
territory: 60 international borders crossing points for trucks along the border of Ukraine.
All of them can be used for delivery of international assistance.
(http://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/static_page/68.htm)
Hazardous goods and restricted equipments: information is not available
Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): all foreign search and
rescue teams with sniffer dogs need international veterinary certificate for each
dog. There is no other special veterinary quarantine requirements, just regular
short veterinary checks at the border crossing point. Special form #1 must be
filled up for each dog entering the country and submitted back after the end of
operations before leaving Ukraine.
Providing Visa at the border crossing point for relief personnel: yes (under special
decision of the Government of Ukraine)
Ukraine has implemented visa-waiving procedures for all EU-citizens as well as
for the citizens of all PPRD East countries so this is not an issue any longer.
Facilitation the entry of personnel of approved international actors is provided
after acceptance of the humanitarian assistance by the Government of Ukraine.
Special directive will be sent directly to National Border Guard Service.
Circulation into the Daylight driving restrictions: speed limit: 90 km/hour at intercity roads, 60 km/hour
territory: in cities.
88
Night driving restrictions: no
Weekend driving bans: no
Season driving bans: no
vehicles. Roads type and height restrictions (for tunnels or cities): height - max 4 m
for trucks and 4,35 m for containers carriers, width – 2,6 m, weight – 38 tons in
total for trucks and 44 tons for containers carriers.
Restrictions as regards alcohol consumption while driving: no alcohol allowed
Possession of International driving license: no
Convoy attendance: State Emergency Service of Ukraine will be providing escort
for all international relief teams transiting Ukraine. Overnight accommodation
for international relief teams can be provided as well if needed.
Facilitation of road Civil Protection Contact Point: State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU)
transport operations operational contact point (24 hours /7 days)
TELEPHONE: +38 (044) 247 32 79 (English speaking)
TELEFAX: +38 (044) 247 32 79
E-MAIL: siis@mns.gov.ua
Competent authority concerning request escorts for civil protection convoys: SESU
Territorial Departments in the regions of Ukraine.
N/A
for refueling): “Boryspil“ and “Zhuliany” airports in Kyiv, international airports in
Lviv, Uzhgorod, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk,
Donetsk and other cities.
Hazardous goods and restricted equipments: yes
Animal health restrictions (e.g. Search and rescue dogs): all foreign search and
rescue teams with sniffer dogs need international veterinary certificate for each
dog. There is no other special veterinary quarantine requirements, just regular
short veterinary checks at the border crossing point. Special form #1 must be
filled up for each dog entering the country and submitted back after the end of
operations before leaving Ukraine.
Providing Visa at the airport for relief personnel: yes
Customs procedures governmental fees: Yes (if such relief goods were approved as humanitarian aid).
Yes (if such relief goods were approved as humanitarian aid).
Simplify and minimize documentation requirements for export, transit and import: Yes
(if such relief goods were approved as humanitarian aid).
Waive or reduce inspection requirements: yes
Availability of customs outside of business hours: yes
Facilitation of aerial Civil Protection Contact Point: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
permission for relief flights: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Recognition of Yes / No / Other procedure: No
qualifications of relief Legal basis: No
personnel (medical
personnel, rescuers,
engineers, etc)
during the
89
international
Recognition of all Yes / No / Other procedure: Yes, driver license
necessary
certificates and Legal basis: Road traffic regulations
qualifications needed
for the conduct of
their work, such as
driver’s license
Any liability for Provisions of Bilateral disaster relief agreements of Ukraine with other
physical injury, countries, which regulates the subject matters:
adverse health
effects or death of 1. The Parties shall resign from any claim for reimbursement of damages
any person / property related to injury or death of members of assistance teams and/or experts,
damage on your
which occurred during the implementation of activities under this Agreement.
territory produced
with no intention by
2. If a member of the Assistance team and/or expert of the Assisting Party
the relief personnel
of the Sending Nation causes damage to a legal entity or natural person in the territory of the State of
during the relief the Requesting Party during the activities under this Agreement, this damage
operations, shall be shall be reimbursed by the requesting Party according to the legislation in
assumed by: force, as if such damage was caused by its citizens while providing assistance.
3. The damage caused by a member of the Assistance team and/or expert

intentionally or by gross negligence shall be reimbursed by the Assisting Party,
under the circumstances that the fact of deliberate damage or gross
negligence was proved by the court of the Requesting Party.
Requesting Nation: yes

or
Sending Nation: no
or
Individual worker: no
Legal basis: Bilateral disaster relief agreements, which are above.

Concept Yes / No / Other procedure: Yes
relevant national Legal basis: The Law of Ukraine “On Humanitarian Aid” was adopted by the
legislation in force Parliament of Ukraine № 1192-XIV from October 22, 1999.
This Law determines legal, organizational, social principles on reception,
processing, distribution and control of the target use of humanitarian
assistance and promotes transparency of the process.
Enactment of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On approval of the

registration of beneficiaries of humanitarian aid” (January 30, 2013 № 39).
Humanitarian aid is subject matter of priority, a free and simplified customs

declaration obligatory. It is necessary to put a stamp "Humanitarian aid" in the
shipping documents and cargo declaration. Delivery of humanitarian aid is
usually done after passing its sanitary, eco and radiological control which is
free of charge.
Law of Ukraine "On humanitarian aid" stipulates that the customs authorities
must ensure prompt and free customs clearance of humanitarian aid, and to
ensure their integrity during their crossing.
The Ministry of Incomes and Fees (tax office) implements control over the use
of humanitarian aid by the organization as intended. Therefore, it is necessary
90
to maintain the accounts of humanitarian aid and the corresponding statements
that are made recipients of humanitarian aid and its recipients.
support to the
personnel with the
followings:
of the roads, etc)
Yes / No / Which of them: no
Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: such support is
provided by the responsible national central executive authorities to all disaster
relief teams while entering into country according to the decision of the
Government in every specific case or situation.
Control Yes / No: no
Yes / No: no
Security (appropriate measures in place to keep safe the relief personnel, locations, goods
and equipment related to the international assistance)
Yes / No: no
91
civil protection Postal address: 55a, O. Gonchara str., Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
Telephone number: +38 (044) 247 30 26, 38 (044) 247 31 30
Fax number: +38 (044) 247 32 79
E-mail address: oper@mns.gov.ua
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Mr. Anatolii Boiko,
First Deputy Head of State Emergency Service of Ukraine
emergency / Postal address: 55a, O. Gonchara str., Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
operational Telephone number: +38 (044) 247 32 79 (English speaking)
Fax number: +38 (044) 247 32 79
E-mail address: siis@mns.gov.ua
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Section for
International Information Sharing, State Emergency Service of Ukraine
International Postal address: 55a, O. Gonchara str., Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
cooperation Telephone number: +38 (044) 247 30 59
Fax number: +38 (044) 247 32 79
E-mail address: bykova@mns.gov.ua; siis@mns.gov.ua
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Mrs. Olena Bykova,
Head of International Cooperation Department, State Emergency Service of
Ukraine
International Postal address: 55a, O. Gonchara str., Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
assistance Telephone number: +38 (044) 247 32 79
Fax number: +38 (044) 247 32 79
E-mail address: siis@mns.gov.ua
Person of Contact (rank, name, position, organization/structure): Section for
international information sharing, State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Responder:
PPRD East National Coordinator in UKRINE - Mr. Oleg Pinskyi

Deputy Head, International Cooperation Department, State Emergency Service
+380442473096
pinskyi@mns.gov.ua
92
5. OVERVIEW OF THE UNION CIVIL PROTECTION MECHANISM (UCPM)
5.1. Current status in civil protection area
What is civil protection?

Civil protection assistance is usually delivered in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The
assistance can take the form of in-kind assistance, teams with equipment and involve
sending experts for assessment and coordination. It relies on government resources and, if
assistance is required in third countries, usually works in parallel with or hands over to
humanitarian aid.
What is the Union Civil Protection Mechanism?

The Union Civil Protection Mechanism supports the mobilization of emergency assistance
in the event of major disasters inside and outside EU.
The primary responsibility for dealing with the immediate effects of a disaster lies with the
country where the disaster has occurred. Nevertheless, when the scale of emergency
overwhelms national response capabilities, a disaster-stricken country can benefit from civil
protection means or teams from other countries. By pooling the civil protection capabilities
of the Participating States, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism can ensure better
protection, primarily of people, but also of the natural and cultural environment, and
property.
What does the approval of the new Civil Protection legislation entails?
The revised EU's Civil Protection legislation integrates all aspects needed for a
comprehensive disaster management policy: disaster prevention, disaster preparedness
and improved response arrangements. To promote a culture of risk prevention, the new
legislation will require the Member States to share a summary of their risk assessments and
to refine their risk management planning. To better prepare for disasters, there will be more
training available for civil protection personnel operating outside their home countries, more
exercising of civil protection response capacities (such as search-and-rescue teams and
field hospitals), more exchanges of civil protection and prevention experts and closer
cooperation with neighboring countries. For a stronger and more efficient response, the
legislation envisages the creation of European Emergency Response Capacity in the form
of pre-committed assets from Member States (teams, equipment) available for immediate
deployment as part of a joint European intervention.
The new legislation for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism was approved on 17
December 2013 as DECISION No 1313/2013/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 December 2013.
The entire text of the DECISION can be found at the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:347:0924:0947:EN:PDF
93
What types of disasters does the Union Civil Protection Mechanism cover?
The Union Civil Protection Mechanism can be activated in response to any type of natural
or man-made disaster, such as earthquakes, floods, forest fires, industrial accidents,
marine pollution or terrorist attacks, both inside EU and in third countries.
How and when is the Union Civil Protection Mechanism activated?
The Union Civil Protection Mechanism can be activated by a request for assistance from a
disaster stricken country anywhere in the world or equally by a request from the UN, its
agencies (e.g. UN OCHA) or a relevant international organization.
In the Mechanism, the Participating States make offers on the basis of a request for
assistance from the affected country. Once this country has accepted the offers, the assets
will be transported to the stricken area. The overall coordination of this process is done by
the ERCC in the European Commission, DG ECHO, in Brussels.
Since its creation in 2001, the Mechanism has been activated for over 150 times, for very
different types of disasters. Major disasters requested assistance including the Tsunami in
South Asia (2004/2005); Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the USA (2005); earthquakes in
China (2008), Haiti (2010), Japan (2011); floods in the Balkans (2010); forest fires in
Greece (2007, 2012); civil unrest in Libya (2011); and explosion at a naval base in Cyprus
(2011); in 2013 the Mechanism was activated 35 times. The biggest deployment of teams
and assistance of 2013 focused on the response to the typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
In 2010, the Mechanism was activated 32 times to provide assistance for various disasters
around the world (e.g. Haiti earthquake and cholera outbreak, Pakistan floods, Portugal
forest fires, Chile earthquake).
In year 2011 the Mechanism was activated 27 times. Assistance through the European Civil
Protection Mechanism has been provided, among others, to Japan (earthquake/ tsunami),
to Cyprus (explosion at a naval base), Argentina (volcano eruption in Chile), Greece and
Albania (forest fires), Pakistan (floods), and Turkey (earthquake).
In 2012 the Mechanism was activated 38 times. The ERCC provided assistance, amongst
others, to Bulgaria, Chad, Nigeria (extreme weather, flooding), Greece, Spain, Bulgaria,
Montenegro, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Portugal (forest fires) and Turkey (refugees).
In 2013 the Mechanism was activated 36 times. The biggest deployment of teams and
assistance of 2013 focused on the response to the typhoon in the Philippines, in December
2013. In that occasion 3 EU CP Teams were deployed, together with one marine pollution
expert.
The management of disasters is a clear example of the added value of action at community
level, where national responsibility for dealing directly with disasters remains unchallenged
but is facilitated and assisted by the sum total of shared Community resources.
What role do experts play?

When required, the ERCC deploys European Civil Protection Assessment and Coordination
Team, as well as technical experts who have been seconded by the Participating States.
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These experts have been trained by their national authorities and have also received
training from the European Commission. Their tasks are set out in a brief that is specific to
each new emergency. Generally speaking, their main role is to act as a link or liaison
between the civil protection assistance from the Participating States, the ERCC and the
recipient country. They are, in effect, the ERCC's "eyes, ears and hands" in the field.
Who pays for the assistance?
According to the implementing rules of the Mechanism, its members (i.e. EU-28 plus
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)
requesting assistance shall bear the costs of assistance provided by the Participating
States. This is because the provision of civil protection assistance in Europe is considered
as a service. However, the participating state providing assistance may, bearing in mind the
particular nature of the emergency and the extent of any damage, offer its assistance
entirely or partially free of charge. In practice, the majority of Participating States offer
assistance free of charge as a gesture of solidarity.
When civil protection assistance is provided to third countries, it is always free of charge,
unless the offering state indicates otherwise; it is up to requesting country to accept or
refuse offers.
Furthermore, since 2013, up to 55 % of the costs of transporting assistance can be co-
financed by the European Commission under the Civil Protection Financial Instrument.
5.2. Participating states in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism

Currently 32 countries participate in the Union Civil Protection Mechanism: all 28 Member
States of the European Union – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta. Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom - plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The European Civil Protection Mechanism is
open to other European Countries.
More details on Participating States regarding organisation, main tasks, duties, training and
exercise can be found at the following link:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/civil_protection/civil/vademecum/menu/2.html
5.3. Rationale of cooperation - Why cooperate?

Good reasons for European level cooperation in the field of Civil Protection:
 By pooling the resources of different Participating States, it is possible to provide a
common response that is more effective and efficient than any Participating State
can deliver on its own.
 A well-coordinated response saves the duplication of efforts and ensures that what is
sent meets the real needs of the affected region.
 The management of natural and man-made disasters is a clear example of the value
of action at European level, where the responsibility for dealing directly with disasters
lies with the national authorities of affected country, which is facilitated and assisted
by a concerted collective effort.
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The European cooperation in the field of civil protection aims at facilitating a rapid and
efficient response to disasters, ensuring sufficient preparedness of civil protection actors to
emergencies and developing measures for the prevention of disasters.
5.4. Union Civil Protection Mechanism Tools1

The main operational tools of the UCP Mechanism are:
 The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)
 The Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS)
 Civil Protection Modules
 The EU Civil Protection Team of experts (EUCPT)
 Training, exercises and exchange of experts programme
 Transport and logistics
 The Copernicus Emergency Management Service - satellite mapping service
 Monitoring and early warning systems
The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)
The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is a 24/7 operational entity within
DG ECHO which has been established to support a coordinated and quicker response to
disasters both inside and outside Europe using resources from 32 countries participating in
the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The ERCC replaces and upgrades the functions of
the previous Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC)2. With a capacity to deal with several
simultaneous emergencies in different time zones, around-the-clock, the ERCC is a
coordination hub facilitating a coherent European response during emergencies helping to
cut unnecessary and expensive duplication of efforts.
The ERCC is operational on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year, and serves the Participating
States and the European Commission in pursuit of the objectives of the Union Mechanism.
The ERCC collects and analyses real-time information on disasters, monitors hazards,
prepares plans for the deployment of experts, teams and equipment, and works with
Member States to map available assets and coordinate the EU's disaster response efforts
by matching offers of assistance to the needs of the disaster-stricken country.
Better planning and the preparation of a set of typical disaster scenarios will further
enhance the ERCC's capacity for rapid response.
The ERCC also supports a wide range of prevention and preparedness activities, from
awareness-raising to field exercises simulating emergency response.
The Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS)
CECIS is a reliable web-based alert and notification application created with the intention of
facilitating emergency communication among the Mechanism's Participating States and the
Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). It provides an integrated platform to
1
The list of emergency management tools and instruments described in this chapter is not
exhaustive and does not represent a formal position of the European Commission. The list
comprises specific tools that are of interest for and can facilitate disaster management activities
within PPRD East countries.
2
The Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) ended its operational role on 15 May 2013 when
the new ERCC was inaugurated and became operational.
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send and receive alerts, details of assistance required, to make offers of help and to view
the development of the ongoing emergency as they happen in an online logbook. Its main
task is to host a database on potentially available response capabilities, to handle requests
for assistance on the basis of these data, to exchange information and to document all
action and message traffic.
To achieve its objective of emergency management, CECIS essentially provides a secure
communication platform for e-mail like message exchange. Specific functionality is
available for matching requests with offers, and for managing resources (experts, teams,
modules, individual resources).
Contrary to internet-based e-mail messages, in CECIS the message exchange takes place
in an environment that is fully under control. The advantages can be found in the field of
security and guaranteed delivery of the messages.
The central communication paradigm in CECIS is message-based information exchange.
All information exchange is related to emergencies, including requests for offers by
Participating States or, through the ERCC, by non-member countries. Usually their quests
are followed by offers that satisfy the request partially or completely.
Messages are usually intended for all of the participants, but can be restricted to a subset of
the more to 1 individual participant. The subset can be defined as a list of individual users.
Optionally, this can be done through the intermediate step of selecting one or more groups,
and selecting users that are listed as member of those groups. Messages include a UTC
date/timestamp and can include attachments. A delivery notification is also available via e-
mail and fax.
As CECIS is a closed system, messages can only be sent to users that are defined in the
system and can only be received from known users. Although users' personal data may
contain (smtp) email addresses, these are used in addition to CECIS-based message
exchange only.
CECIS contains a list of predefined resources (experts, modules) nominated by the civil
protection authorities in the Participating States.
All requests and offers of assistance are summarized into a matrix that provides an optimal
overview about the assistance being mobilized through the Mechanism.
Civil Protection modules
“Module” means a self-sufficient and autonomous predefined task- and needs-driven
arrangement of Participating States’ capabilities or a mobile operational team of the
Participating States representing a combination of human and material means, that can be
described in terms of its capacity for intervention or by the task(s) it is able to undertake.
(Council Decision establishing a Community CP Mechanism (recast), 2007/779/EC)
Therefore the notion of modules in the context of the Mechanism represents Participating
States self-sufficient response capacities, i.e. assets + experts.
According to the latest legislative provisions, the EU Modules shall be made up of the
resources of one or more Member States and shall:
(a) be able to perform pre-defined tasks in the areas of response in accordance with
established international guidelines and therefore be able to:
(i) be dispatched at very short notice following a request for assistance through
the ERCC; and
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(ii) work self-sufficiently and autonomously for a given period of time;
(b) be interoperable with other modules;
(c) undertake training and exercises in order to meet the interoperability requirement;
(d) be placed under the authority of a person who is responsible for the operation of
modules; and
(e) be able to cooperate with other Union bodies and/or international institutions, in
particular the United Nations, as appropriate.
Currently there are 17 types of modules defined within the Mechanism:
1. High capacity pumping
2. Water purification
3. Medium urban search and rescue
4. Heavy urban search and rescue
5. Aerial forest fire fighting using helicopters
6. Aerial forest fire fighting using airplanes
7. Advanced medical post
8. Advanced medical post with surgery
9. Field hospital
10. Medical Aerial evacuation of disaster victims
11. Emergency temporary shelter
12. CBRN detection and sampling
13. Search and rescue in CBRN conditions
14. Ground forest fire fighting
15. Ground forest fire fighting using vehicles
16. Flood Containment
17. Flood Rescue Module using boats
The modules are under direct command and responsibility of the Participating States that
established them and can be mobilized in the eventuality of a request for assistance.
The modules are registered in CECIS database and correspondingly a factsheet is
uploaded during the registration process that contains important information about the
module composition, operational capacities, availability, self-sufficiency, logistics, etc.
At the beginning of 2014, more than 150 modules have been registered by most of the
Participating States into CECIS database.
The EU Civil Protection Team of experts (EUCP Team)
When assistance is offered through the Mechanism, a dedicated team of Mechanism
experts is deployed to the affected area as well. This team, called in short the EUCP Team,
is composed of experts nominated by various Participating States that have specific
expertise and competences, accompanied by a Liaison Officer from the ERCC in Brussels.
In specific emergencies a EUCP Team can integrate experts from the United Nations
Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) and / or humanitarian aid experts from
DG ECHO field offices.
The main tasks of a EUCP Team could be summarized as follows:
 assess the needs that can possibly be addressed under the Union Mechanism in the
state requesting assistance;
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 facilitate, when necessary, the coordination of international disaster response
assistance on site and liaise with the competent authorities of the state requesting
assistance;
 support the requesting state with expertise on prevention, preparedness or response
actions;
It is important to emphasize that the EUCP Team is deployed in support of the National
Authorities of the affected state.
Training, exercises and exchange of experts programme
The European Commission / DG ECHO is managing a training programme for civil
protection and emergency management personnel on prevention of, preparedness for and
response to disasters. The programme includes joint courses and a system for exchange of
experts, whereby individual experts may be seconded to other Member States and vice-
versa.
The training programme aims to enhance the coordination, compatibility and
complementarity between the EU modules and to improve the competence of civil
protection experts in terms of international disaster response missions.
The training programme has been continuously adapted to the needs of the Mechanism
and to the changing environment of emergencies, taking into account the lessons identified
after Mechanism’s actions.
Briefly, the training programme consists of 12 different types courses that can be divided
into three categories: induction, operational and management level.
The training programme runs in cycles, each cycle starting in May/June and ending in May
the following year. Since 2003, 10 cycles have been completed.
Each PS and partner organization has appointed national training coordinator (NTC) who is
responsible for identifying and nominating participants to the courses. For half of the
courses, participants have to conclude the online preparation and testing tool, and obtain a
certificate before participating in the training course.
The training courses are conducted by training centres in Italy, Croatia, United Kingdom,
Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Austria and the Netherlands.
Within the same training programme, DG ECHO / Emergency Response Unit has
established a training network open to training centres for civil protection and emergency
management personnel as well as other relevant actors and institutions on prevention of,
preparedness for and response to disasters.
The training network is aiming to:
(i) enhance all phases of disaster management, taking into account adaptation to
and mitigation of climate change;
(ii) create synergies among its members through exchange of experience and
best practices, relevant research, lessons learnt, courses and workshops,
exercises and pilot projects; and
(iii) develop guidance on Union and international civil protection training, including
training on prevention of, preparedness for and response to disasters;
DG ECHO has developed a comprehensive civil protection exercise framework under which
several exercises are organized on a yearly basis (around 10 exercises / year). The
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exercises can take the form of table top exercises, command post, field exercises and also
full-scale exercises.
Most of the exercises that involve deployment of modules, teams and other capabilities
have an Observers Programme, in which various partners of the Mechanism can
participate3, including PPRD East countries.
Transport and logistics
In the event of a disaster, either within or outside the Union, the European Commission may
support the Participating States (PS) in obtaining access to equipment or transport
resources by:
(a) Providing and sharing information on equipment and transport resources that can be
made available by PS, with a view to facilitating the pooling of such equipment or
transport resources;
(b) Assisting PS to identify, and facilitating their access to, transport resources that may
be available from other sources, including the commercial market via a contractor
(transport broker).
(c) Assisting PS to identify equipment that may be available from other sources, including
the commercial market.
The EU Civil Protection transport instrument is unique among the various global emergency
management mechanisms providing immense added value in the eventuality of a request
for assistance by:
 Incentivizing / boosting the offers of assistance during an emergency by offering
solutions and / or financial support to transport the assistance to the affected country
 Being an instrument that works in the benefit of the affected state, i.e. more offers of
assistance can be mobilized by solving the transport issue
 Covering also the warehousing / handling of equipment and in country transportation
The amount of Union financial support for transport resources is maximum 55 % of the total
eligible cost. In order to be eligible for financial support, the following criteria shall be met:
(i) a request for assistance has been made under the Mechanism, i.e. the Mechanism
has been activated;
(ii) the additional transport resources are necessary for ensuring the effectiveness of
disaster response under the Mechanism;
(iii) the assistance corresponds to the needs identified by the ERCC and is delivered in
accordance with the recommendations given by the ERCC on the technical
specifications, quality, timing and modalities for delivery;
(iv) the assistance has been accepted by a requesting country, directly or through the
United Nations or its agencies, or a relevant international organisation, under the
Union Mechanism; and
(v) the assistance complements, for disasters in third countries, any overall Union
humanitarian response.
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service - satellite mapping service
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) is the first Copernicus (previously
GMES) service to become operational.
3
Participation in the Observers Programme is determined on a case by case basis.
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The Copernicus emergency management service provides all actors involved in the
management of natural disasters, man-made emergency situations, and humanitarian
crises with timely and accurate geo-spatial information derived from satellite remote
sensing and completed by available in situ or open data sources.
The mapping component of the service (GIO EMS - Mapping) has a worldwide coverage
and provides the above-mentioned actors (mainly Civil Protection Authorities and
Humanitarian Aid Agencies) with maps based on satellite imagery. The service started
operations on 1st April 2012.
The information generated by the service can be used as supplied (e.g. as digital or printed
map outputs). It may be further combined with other data sources (e.g. as digital feature
sets in a geographic information system). In both cases it may support geospatial analysis
and decision making processes of emergency managers.
GIO EMS - Mapping is provided during all phases of the emergency management cycle, in
either rush or non-rush mode, free of charge for the users. It can be activated only by
authorized users.
Rush mode consists of the on-demand and fast provision (within hours or days) of
geospatial information in support of emergency management activities immediately
following an emergency event. The products are standardized. A large set of parameters
are available, and the user can choose among them when placing a service request. There
are three categories of products offered: Reference Maps, Delineation Maps (providing an
assessment of the event extent) and Grading Maps (providing an assessment of the
damage grade and its spatial distribution).
Non-rush mode consists of the on-demand provision of geospatial information in support
of Emergency Management activities not related to immediate response. This applies in
particular to activities dealing with prevention, preparedness, disaster risk reduction and
recovery phases. There are three broad product categories: Reference Maps, Pre-disaster
Situation Maps and Post-disaster Situation Maps.
The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) in DG ECHO plays a pivotal role in
GIO EMS – Mapping being the first entry point to a Service Request Form (SRF) and
validating the activation if the request is eligible. The ERCC can directly activate the GIO
EMS – Mapping in case of a disaster in a country not part of the Mechanism.
More details at: http://emergency.copernicus.eu/mapping/ems/ems-mapping-service
Monitoring and early warning systems
A multitude of monitoring and early warning systems have been developed in order to
enable the ERCC and the Participating States to be better prepared and enhance the
response in case of a disaster.
In this endeavor DG ECHO is collaborating with DG Joint Research Center (JRC) and with
experts and scientists from the member states to develop scientific models, monitoring and
forecasting tools that addresses the main risks in Europe and worldwide (earthquakes,
tsunamis, floods, forest fires, weather related events, epidemics, radiological survey, flash
floods, etc.).
Some of the monitoring and early warning systems used in the ERCC are the following:
a. The European Flood Awareness System (EFAS), developed to produce European
overviews on ongoing and forecasted floods, contributes to better protection of the
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European Citizen, the environment, property and cultural heritage in support to the EU
Mechanism for Civil Protection.
EFAS was developed at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission in close
collaboration with the National hydrological and meteorological services, European Civil
Protection through the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) and research
institutes. Since 2012 EFAS is an operational service under the umbrella of the Copernicus
emergency management service and run by Member States organizations. EFAS also
represents the 1st operational hydrological network in Europe.
The principal aims of EFAS are:
 To provide added value early flood forecasting products to hydrological services and
 To provide unique overview products of ongoing and forecasted floods in Europe
more than 3 days in advance.
More details at: http://www.efas.eu/
b. The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) has been established by the
Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Directorate General for Environment (DG ENV) of the
European Commission (EC) to support the services in charge of the protection of forests
against fires in the EU and neighbor countries, and also to provide the EC services and the
European Parliament with information on forest fires in Europe.
EFFIS addresses forest fires in Europe in a comprehensive way, providing EU level
assessments from pre-fire to post-fire phases, thus supporting fire prevention,
preparedness, firefighting and post-fire evaluations.
Along the main fire season (June to September), maps of forecasted fire danger are
emailed daily to forest services and civil protection services of EU, fire statistics for the
ongoing fire season are exchanged quarterly and newsletters are issued monthly. In
addition the EFFIS team at JRC responds to ad hoc requests of specific assessments
during major forest fire crisis in EU.
More details at: http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/effis/
c. The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) is a cooperation
framework between the United Nations, the European Commission and disaster managers
worldwide to improve alerts, information exchange and coordination in the first phase after
major sudden-onset disasters.
GDACS provides real-time access to web‐based disaster information systems and related
coordination tools. GDACS provides alerts and impact estimations after major disasters
through a multi-hazard disaster impact assessment service managed by the European
Commission Joint Research Centre. To this end, JRC establishes scientific partnerships
with global hazard monitoring organizations. Relevant data is integrated automatically into
GDACS alerts and impact estimations. GDACS develops standards and guidelines
for international information exchange in disasters.
GDACS provides the real-time coordination platform “Virtual OSOCC”
(http://vosocc.gdacs.org) to disaster managers worldwide. More details at:
http://www.gdacs.org/
d. Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring (EURDEP) – provides radiological monitoring
data from most European countries available in nearly real-time. EURDEP is both a
standard data-format for radiological data and a network for the exchange of automatic
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monitoring data. The data exchange is mostly done on an hourly basis, both during routine
and emergency operation. More info at: http://eurdep.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
e. Meteoalarm is a web based application that integrates all important severe weather
information originating from the official National Public Weather Services across a large
number of European countries. This information is presented consistently to ensure
coherent interpretation as widely as possible throughout Europe.
Meteoalarm provides the most relevant information needed to prepare for extreme weather,
expected to occur somewhere over Europe. It will alert of the possible occurrence of severe
weather, such as heavy rain with risk of flooding, severe thunderstorms, gale-force winds,
heat waves, forest fires, fog, snow or extreme cold with blizzards, avalanches or severe
coastal tides.
Meteoalarm is developed for EUMETNET, the Network of European Meteorological
Services. This initiative is strongly supported by the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO). More info at: http://www.meteoalarm.eu/
5.5. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)

5.5.1. Background
The ERCC is the main operational tool of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. It builds on
the experience and replaces the previous Commission's Monitoring and Information Center
(MIC).
The main goal of the Mechanism is to facilitate co-operation in civil protection interventions
in the event of major emergencies. Apart from the 28 EU Member States, the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are the participating
states. The participating states pool resources that can be made available to help disaster-
hit countries and share best practices in disaster management.
The EU's disaster response coordination has evolved throughout the years, following a
continuous increase in requests for assistance from all over the world. The ERCC is a one-
stop-shop providing an overview of the available civil protection assets and acts as a
communication hub between the participating states, the affected country and dispatched
field experts. Any country inside or outside the EU affected by a major disaster can make
an appeal for assistance through the ERCC. In response, the ERCC matches offers of
assistance to the needs of the disaster-hit country.
5.5.2. Why a need for ERCC?

82% of EU citizens agree that a coordinated EU action in dealing with disasters is more
effective than actions by individual countries. Source: 2012 Eurobarometer
When a disaster strikes, every minute counts: in order to save lives, immediate, coordinated
and pre-planned response is essential, even more so as natural and man-made disasters
are on the rise due to climate change, population growth, urbanization and increased
industrial activity.
In the spirit of solidarity, the European Union supports disaster response in a timely and
efficient manner and to ensure European assistance meets the real needs in the population
affected, whether in Europe or beyond. Any country inside or outside the EU affected by a
major disaster can make an appeal for assistance directly to the ERCC.
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5.5.3. The roles of ERCC
The ERCC has three main operational roles:

1. 24/7 monitoring and action. The ERCC ensures 24/7 monitoring and immediate
reaction to disasters all over the world. Its main role is to coordinate European response to
disasters so that help is efficient and matches the needs. Such assistance can include in-
kind assets (e.g. shelter, water tanks, and blankets) and trained expert teams (e.g. medical
staff, search and rescue teams). With the new EU Civil protection legislation, the ERCC will
manage a pre-identified voluntary pool of Participating States' assets which will further
improve European response to disasters.
2. In-house coordination hub. The ERCC fosters increased cooperation between the civil
protection and humanitarian aid operations. The ERCC keeps direct links to the civil
protection and humanitarian aid authorities in the Participating States which enables a real-
time exchange of information.
3. Enhancing civil protection cooperation at European level. The ERCC ensures better
cooperation and increased coherence of EU action at the inter-institutional level, including
coordination with the European External Action Service, the Council and the Participating
States.
5.5.4. Added value of the ERCC

 Faster and more efficient response to disasters in Europe and beyond
 Improved coordination between the European Institutions, competent national
authorities in Member States, and international partners
 Enhanced monitoring and analytical capacity to be better prepared and to ensure
European response is coherent and corresponds to the needs
5.5.5. Contact
European Commission
Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection
Emergency Response Coordination Centre – ERCC
Rue de la Loi 86
B-1040 Brussels/Belgium
Phone: +32 229 21112
Fax: +32 229 86651
E-mail: echo-ercc@ec.europa.eu
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/about/ERC_en.htm
Websites: EN - FR - AR | Blog | YouTube | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook
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6. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACHRONYMS
AAL Average Annual Loss
European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous

ADR
Goods by Road
ALRC Agency for Land Relations and Cadaster
APELL Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level
ARS Armenian Rescue Service
All-State Service for the Observation and Control of the pollution levels of
ASSOC
environmental bodies
BCPR Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery
BO Branch Office
BP British Petroleum
BRCS Belarusian Red Cross Society
BSEC Black Sea Economic Cooperation
CAREC Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation
CECIS Common Emergency and Information System
CIMA International Centre on Environmental Monitoring Research Foundation
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
CMC Crisis Management Centre
CMSA Department of Crisis Management National Academy
CNR National Research Council
CORE Cooperation for Rehabilitation Programme
COS(OT) Consortium for Earth Observation
CP Civil Protection
CPESS CP and Emergency Situations Service
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CRED Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters
DES Department of Exceptional Situations
Humanitarian Aid and CP department of the European Commission –

DG ECHO
Directorate General
Dir.PCM Directive of President of the Ministries Council
DM Disaster Management
DPPI Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Initiative
DPPI SEE Disaster Prevention and Preparedness for South-Eastern Europe
DRM disaster risk management
DRR Disaster Risk Reduction
EADRCC Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordinator Centre
EaP Eastern Partnership
EC European Commission
ECA Europe and Central Asia
ECC Emergency Command Centre
ECHO Humanitarian Aid and CP department of the European Commission
Eco-TIRAS International Environmental Association of River Keepers
EEP East European platform
EFAS European Flood Awareness System
EFI Extreme Forecast Index
EM DAT The International Emergency Disasters Database
EMD Emergency Management Department
ENP European Neighbourhood Policy
ENPI European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument
EPPD Export Pipelines Protection Department
EPSC Export Pipelines Security Commissions
ERCC Emergency Response Coordination Centre
106
ERRA Electronic Regional Risk Atlas
ESMGC Emergency Situations Management Governmental Commission
EU European Union
EUR-OPA European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement
EWS Early Warning System
FLEG Forest Law Enforcement and Governance
FoEI Friends of the Earth International
GAR Global Risk Assessment Reports
GDP Gross domestic product
GIS Geographic information system
GOA Government of Armenia
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
GSHAP Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program
GTZ German Technical Cooperation Agency
Georgia Ukraine Azerbaijan Moldova Organization for Democracy and

GUAM
Economic Development
HFA Hyogo Framework for Action
HFB Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Bureau
HNS Host Nation Support
HNS Host Nation Support
HPP Hydroelectric power plant
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
ICDO International Civil Defence Organisation
ICT Information, Communication and Telecommunication Technologies
IDNDR International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
IED improvised explosive devices
INGEOCAD Institute of Geodesy, Engineering Research and Cadastre
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INSARAG International Search and Rescue Advisory Group
INSPIRE Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe
IPAP Individual Partnership Action Plan
ISDR International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
IUCN World Conservation Union
JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency
LEP Local Emergency Plan
LSG Local Self Government
MADRiD Mainstreaming Adaptation and Climate Change into Development
MAFI Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry
MIA Ministry of Internal Affairs
MIC Monitoring and Information Centre
MoD Ministry of Defence
MOE Ministry of Ukraine of Emergencies and Affairs of Population
MoENR Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources
MoES (or
Ministry of Emergency Situations
MES)
MoH Ministry of Health
MoNREP Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection
MRCS Moldavian Red Cross Society
MSK (Scale) Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik (seismic scale)
MTA Ministry of Territorial Administration
MTEF Mid-Term Expenditure Framework
NATECH Natural Hazard Triggering a Technological Disaster)
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NBC
Nuclear Biological Chemical
(Hazard)
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NEA National Environmental Agency
NEAP-2 National Environmental Action Plan 2012-2016
NEMIS National Emergency Management Information System
NERP National Emergency Response Plan
NFI non-food items
NGO Non-governative organization
NHD National Hydrometeorological Department
NHMC National Hydrometerological Centre
NSC National Security Council
OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OFDA Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
OPERA OPerational Eo-based RAinfall-runoff forecast
OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
OXFAM Oxford Commitee for Famine Relief
PER Plan d’exposition aux risques
PfP Partnership for Peace
POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants
PPP public-private partnership
EU funded Programme for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response

PPRD East
to Man-made and Natural Disasters in the ENPI East Region
R&D Research and Development
RA Republic of Armenia
RCC Regional Cooperation Council
RCRCEM Republican Centre for Radiation Control and Environmental Monitoring
RDFG Rural Development for Future Georgia
REC Regional Environmental Centre
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REC Regional Environmental Centre
SDCA Swiss Development Cooperation Agency
South Eastern Europe Disaster Risk Mitigation and Adaptation

SEEDRMAP
Programme
SEI State Environmental Inspectorate
SEI State Environmental Inspectorate
SEPES State Emergency Prevention and Elimination System
SHS State Hydro-meteorological Service
SHS State Hydro-meteorological Service
SNUAU United National System of Emergency Response
SOCAR State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic
SoPs Standard operating procedures
SRSA Swedish Rescue Services Agency
SWC State Water Cadastre
TACIS Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States
TEIA Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
UAH Ukrainian Hryvnia
UN ECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
UNISDR United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
USD United States Dollars
UXO Unexploded ordnance
WMO World Meteorological Organization
WWF World Wildlife Fund
110
7. ANNEX
7.1. Request for Assistance Message
This message is used by the affected nation to request assistance from International
agencies or Neighboring Countries. It again provides description of disaster, national
contact, but also identifies needed assistance, what, how many and for what duration.
This Document should be in form of a duly signed letter issued by the national authority/
competent authority as decided at the national level in accordance with the country
legislation; and should be addressed directly to ECHO ERCC @: echo-ercc@ec.europa.eu;
T: +32 2 29 21112; Fax: + 32 2 29 86651
The letter should contain several details, e.g. below (as much as possible and according to
the initial assessment):
A. National Point of Contact:
a. [Name]
b. [Organization]
c. [Phone number]
d. [Fax number]
e. [Email address]
B. Description of Disaster:
a. [Type of Disaster]
b. [Date and Time Disaster Occurred (GMT)]
c. [Location of Disaster in Geographic coordinates]
d. [Size of Area affected by Disaster]
e. [Estimated Numbers of Persons affected]
f. [Other affected (structures, crops, animals etc.)]
g. [Anticipated Situation for next 24]
111
C. Assessment of Needs:
a. [Affected Nation Response Capabilities-Resources involvement in mitigating the

consequences of the disaster]
b. [Assistance Requested from Supporting Nations/ International organizations -Prioritized]:
Description Quantity Date and duration
A. Services/ Teams (Modules)

…..
B. In-kind assistance/supplies
…..
c. [Affected Nation Capability to Support Assistance Requested] - Host Nation Support
D. Coordinating Instructions:
a. [Detail on points of entry: port, airport, border crossing; routes of travel to staging
area; and Geo-coordinates of these locations]
b. [Meteorological and field conditions]
c. [Phone, Fax, and Email of National Point of Contact for Requested Assistance]
112
7.2. Press Pack – European Civil Protection (January 2014)
PRESS PACK January 2014
European Civil Protection

Content
 What is civil protection?
 What does ECHO stand for?
 What is the European Civil Protection Mechanism?
 What does the approval of the new Civil Protection legislation entails?
 What types of disasters does the European Civil Protection Mechanism cover?
 Which countries participate in the European Civil Protection Mechanism?
 Why cooperate?
 What are the main tools of the European Civil Protection Mechanism?
 How and when is the European Civil Protection Mechanism activated?
 What can the European Civil Protection Mechanism do in the case of marine pollution
incidents?
 What role do experts play?
 Who pays for the assistance?
 What is the European Union doing on disaster prevention?
 What is the budget for civil protection?
 What is the relationship between the European Civil Protection Mechanism and the United
Nations?
 What are the future priorities for the European civil protection?
 Where can I find more information?
What is civil protection?
Civil protection assistance is usually delivered in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The assistance can
take the form of in-kind assistance, teams with equipment and involve sending experts for assessment and
coordination. It relies on government resources and, if assistance is required in third countries, usually works
in parallel with or hands over to humanitarian aid.
113
What does ECHO stand for?
DG ECHO stands for Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection.
There are grounds to believe that the increasing frequency, severity and intensity of disasters will continue in
the future. For this reason, in early 2010 the European Civil Protection Mechanism was transferred to DG
ECHO and merged with humanitarian aid in an attempt to exploit synergies and reinforce the coherence of
European response operations.
When a disaster occurs outside the European Union, the EU may also be providing humanitarian aid in the
affected country. Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection are both under the responsibility of Commissioner
Kristalina Georgieva, ensuring close coordination of all available resources.
What is the European Civil Protection Mechanism?
The European Civil Protection Mechanism supports the mobilization of emergency assistance in the event of
major disasters inside and outside EU.
The primary responsibility for dealing with the immediate effects of a disaster lies with the country where the
disaster has occurred. Nevertheless, when the scale of emergency overwhelms national response
capabilities, a disaster-stricken country can benefit from civil protection means or teams from other countries.
By pooling the civil protection capabilities of the Participating States, the European Civil Protection
Mechanism can ensure better protection, primarily of people, but also of the natural and cultural environment,
and property.
What does the approval of the new Civil Protection legislation entails?
The revised EU's Civil Protection legislation integrates all aspects needed for a comprehensive disaster
management policy: disaster prevention, disaster preparedness and improved response arrangements. To
promote a culture of risk prevention, the new legislation will require the Member States to share a summary of
their risk assessments and to refine their risk management planning. To better prepare for disasters, there will
be more training available for civil protection personnel operating outside their home countries, more
exercising of civil protection response capacities (such as search-and-rescue teams and field hospitals), more
exchanges of civil protection and prevention experts and closer cooperation with neighboring countries. For a
stronger and more efficient response, the legislation envisages the creation of a voluntary pool of Member
States' assets (teams, equipment) available for immediate deployment as part of a joint European
intervention.
What types of disasters does the European Civil Protection Mechanism cover?
The European Civil Protection Mechanism can be activated in response to any type of natural or man-made
disaster, such as earthquakes, floods, forest fires, industrial accidents, marine pollution or terrorist attacks,
both inside EU and in third countries.
Which countries participate in the European Civil Protection Mechanism?
Currently 32 countries participate in the European Civil Protection Mechanism: all 28 Member States of the
European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The
European Civil Protection Mechanism is open to other European Countries.
Why cooperate?
Good reasons for European level cooperation in the field of Civil Protection:
By pooling the resources of different Participating States, it is possible to provide a common response that is
more effective and efficient than any Participating State can deliver on its own.
 A well-coordinated response saves the duplication of efforts and ensures that what is sent meets the
real needs of the affected region.
 The management of natural and man-made disasters is a clear example of the value of action at
European level, where the responsibility for dealing directly with disasters lies with the national
authorities of affected country, which is facilitated and assisted by a concerted collective effort.
114
The European cooperation in the field of civil protection aims at facilitating a rapid and efficient response to
disasters, ensuring sufficient preparedness of civil protection actors to emergencies and developing measures
for the prevention of disasters.
What are the main tools of the European Civil Protection Mechanism?
The European Civil Protection Mechanism has a number of tools at its disposal to facilitate both adequate
preparedness and effective response to disasters at European level.
The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC/ former MIC) is the operational heart of the European
Civil Protection Mechanism. It is run by the European Commission in Brussels and is accessible 24 hours a
day. It gives countries access to a "one-stop-shop" of civil protection resources that are available in the
Participating States. Any country within or outside the European Union that is affected by a major disaster can
appeal for assistance via the ERCC. It acts as a communication hub between Participating States, the
affected country and the experts who are dispatched to the field. It also provides useful and updated
information on the actual status of an on-going emergency. Last but not least, the ERCC performs a
coordinating role by matching the offers of assistance from Participating States to the needs of the disaster-
stricken country.
A training and exercise programme has also been set up to improve the coordination of civil protection
assistance missions by ensuring that intervention teams from the Participating States provide assistance that
is compatible and complementary. It also enhances the skills of experts involved in civil protection assistance
operations through the sharing of best practices. In addition the Commission organizes the exchange of
experts from Participating States.
How and when is the European Civil Protection Mechanism activated?
The European Civil Protection Mechanism can be activated by a request for assistance from a disaster
stricken country anywhere in the world.
In the Mechanism, the Participating States make offers on the basis of a request for assistance from the
affected country. Once this country has accepted the offers, the assets will be transported to the stricken area.
The overall coordination of this process is done by the ERCC in the European Commission, DG ECHO, in
Brussels.
In 2010, the Mechanism was activated 32 times to provide assistance for various disasters around the world
(e.g. Haiti earthquake and cholera outbreak, Pakistan floods, Portugal forest fires, Chile earthquake).
In year 2011 the Mechanism was activated 27 times. Assistance through the European Civil Protection
Mechanism has been provided, among others, to Japan (earthquake/ tsunami), to Cyprus (explosion at a
naval base), Argentina (volcano eruption in Chile), Greece and Albania (forest fires), Pakistan (floods), and
Turkey (earthquake).
In 2012 the Mechanism was activated 38 times. The ERCC provided assistance, amongst others, to Bulgaria,
Chad, Nigeria (extreme weather, flooding), Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Herzegovina,
Portugal (forest fires) and Turkey (refugees).
In 2013 the Mechanism was activated 35 times. The biggest deployment of teams and assistance of 2013
focussed on the response to the typhoon in the Philippines, in December 2013. In that occasion 3 EU CP
Teams were deployed, together with one marine pollution expert.
What can the European Civil Protection Mechanism do in the case of marine pollution incidents?
With the establishment of the European Civil Protection Mechanism in 2001, it has covered both civil
protection and marine pollution emergencies. If it receives a request for assistance in relation to a marine
pollution incident, it forwards it to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), which manages a stand-by
vessel oil recovery service for European sea areas. This network of response vessels is ready to be
mobilized, upon request, when the scale of a pollution incident is beyond that of the resources available in the
affected country. Outside Europe the Mechanism can deploy marine pollution experts.
115
What role do experts play?
When required, the ERCC deploys European civil protection assessment and coordination team, as well as
technical experts who have been seconded by the Participating States.
These experts have been trained by their national authorities and have also received training from the
European Commission. Their tasks are set out in a brief that is specific to each new emergency. Generally
speaking, their main role is to act as a link or liaison between the civil protection assistance from the
Participating States, the ERCC and the recipient country. They are, in effect, the ERCC's "eyes, ears and
hands" in the field.
Who pays for the assistance?
According to the implementing rules of the Mechanism, its members (i.e. EU-28 plus Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Norway and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) requesting assistance shall bear the costs of
assistance provided by the Participating States. This is because the provision of civil protection assistance in
Europe is considered as a service. However, the participating state providing assistance may, bearing in mind
the particular nature of the emergency and the extent of any damage, offer its assistance entirely or partially
free of charge. In practice, the majority of Participating States offer assistance free of charge as a gesture of
solidarity.
When civil protection assistance is provided to third countries, it is always free of charge, unless the offering
state indicates otherwise; it is up to requesting country to accept or refuse offers.
Furthermore, since 2013, up to 55 % of the costs of transporting assistance can be co-financed by the
European Commission under the Civil Protection Financial Instrument.
What is the European Union doing on disaster prevention?
The European Commission supports and complements the prevention efforts of participating states in the EU
Civil Protection Mechanism by improving ac-cess to disaster data and encouraging the countries to undertake
risk assessment and hazard mapping. Disaster risk prevention has been included in key EU policies, including
health, environmental impact assessment, climate change adaptation, eco-systems, agriculture, transport and
energy, research and innovation.
The Commission supports innovative solutions for financing disaster prevention, including the use of
insurance as a tool for disaster management and as an incentive to promote risk awareness.
What is the budget for civil protection?
In 2012, the civil protection budget was around € 22 million, while in 2013 it was € 23.2 million. This covered
actions within the EU and outside its borders. Also the operation of the ERCC, trainings, exercises and co-
financing of transport of assistance are included in the budget. The civil protection budget for 2014, approved
in December 2013, amounts to over € 47 million.
What is the relationship between the European Civil Protection Mechanism and the United Nations?
The European Civil Protection Mechanism works in close cooperation with the United Nations (UN).
The ERCC ensures a consistent European response which can also strengthen the overall response and
coordination efforts led by the UN outside the EU.
What are the future priorities for the European civil protection?
The European Civil Protection legislation has been revised. The Commission's proposal was discussed in the
Council and the European Parliament, with a view to adoption by the end of 2013.
The aim of the revision is to elevate all elements of European disaster management system: prevention,
preparedness and response.
The key elements of the Commission proposal are:
 To strengthen the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)
 To move towards an increasingly pre-planned, pre-arranged and predictable system
116
 To develop the voluntary pool of standby assets
 To streamline and reinforce transport arrangements
 To upgrade the level of preparedness and prevention
Where can I find more information?
Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection website: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm
Commissioner Georgieva website: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/georgieva/index_en.htm
Spokesperson for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis response:

David Sharrock
Telephone: +32 (0)2 29 68909
Mobile: +32 (0)460 750 628
E-mail: David.sharrock@ec.europa.eu
117
Civil Protection
and Disaster Management
www.euroeastcp.eu

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Developed by EU-funded Programme for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response

 Better knowledge of risk exposure and available resources

 Increased theoretical and practical knowledge on Civil Protection Mechanism, Flood

1.2. Overview and context

2. RATIONALE OF THE GUIDEBOOK AND METHODOLOGY

2.1. Why a Guidebook?

3. PPRD East REGION and PARTNER COUNTRIES

3.1. Regional characteristics – types of risks

Chernobyl Nuclear Plant accident /

frost and hail, Drought, Wildfire

infestation, Animal Stampede

other nuclear facilities

Geophysical disasters (Events originating from solid earth)

3.2. Disasters in Partner Countries and trans-boundaries disasters - Risk types

insufficiency of financial means and non-professional building organizations and programs,

4. PARTNER COUNTRIES’ PROFILES

4.1. REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

Basic country information validated on 08/05/2014 by

BASIC COUNTRY INFORMATION:

NATIONAL CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEM, MANDATE AND ORGANIZATION:

Early warning and

Road transport of relief / international teams:

Recognition of Yes / No / Other procedure: Yes, with no certification procedure

PPRD East National Programme Coordinator in ARMENIA - Mr. Hovhannes Yemishyan,

4.2. REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

Description: The National Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan consists of

BASIC COUNTRY INFORMATION:

NATIONAL CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEM, MANDATE AND ORGANIZATION:

Cabinet of Ministers of the

Baku Regional Centre

Available Human and

Early warning and

International assistance is offered / requested on a case-by-case basis following

Road transport of relief / international teams:

List of relevant contacts

M. Mushvig str., 501 block,

Tel.: (+994 12) 512 00 61

4.3. REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

BASIC COUNTRY INFORMATION:

NATIONAL CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEM, MANDATE AND ORGANIZATION:

Early warning and

Road transport of relief / international teams:

PPRD East National Coordinator in the Republic of BELARUS - Ms Anna Uss

Basic country information validated on 08/05/2014 by

BASIC COUNTRY INFORMATION:

The full, official name of the countr y is "Georgia", as specified in the

mountain ranges and hills comprise 80% of Georgian territory. The

Religions: Orthodox Christian (official) 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian

NATIONAL CIVIL PROTECTION SYSTEM, MANDATE AND ORGANIZATION:

Civil protection/civil Civil Protection Common system is a unity of government agencies,

Emergenc y situations characteristic according to the their origin within

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT LEVELS AND

Civil Protection measures are financed from the national, autonomous

Authority of the executive government of Georgia in the area of

NOTE: Emergency Management Agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of

Diagram of the Civil Protection Structure of Georgia

Early warning and How it is defined in Georgia: “. Notification/early warnings of Emergencies to

Road transport of relief / international teams:

Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: In case of disaster

Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: Emergency

Please provide a brief description of the procedure in place: interpreters will be

USEFUL WEBPAGES ABOUT GEORGIA:

Other useful links: