Ministerial Conference "Experiences of the participating countries in addressing emergencies and the need for the establishment of the regional centre for emergency management"
Speech by Minister Ivica Dačić
Dear Prime Minister, Dear Ministers, Your Excellencies, Colleagues,
In the last 30 years, the number of disasters has considerably increased worldwide, as well as their devastating impact on society and environment. Developing countries are most affected by disasters given the fact that they are the most vulnerable and have the least capacity to tackle them.
Global warming and climate changes result in strong and frequent occurrences of huge disastrous fires, droughts, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Climate changes also contribute to ever faster destruction of the environment, whose consequences are detrimental to human health and survival of numerous species and cultural heritage.
Still, disasters can be avoided. There are ways to reduce risks and limit consequences, for example, through recognising the main causes of vulnerability of society and through building capacities to address them. Disaster risk reduction involves preparedness, mitigation and prevention. Its purpose is to strengthen disaster resilience, aided with knowledge on risk management, capacity strengthening and using new technologies.
Effective disaster risk reduction can significantly reduce the number casualties and damage to property. The studies of eminent international institutions have shown that each euro invested in prevention and disaster risk reduction reduces allocations for emergency response fourfold.
Political commitment is of key importance for enhancement of disaster risk reduction at all levels. The United Nations and European Union encourage developing countries to accept the concept of disaster risk reduction and implement the Hyogo Framework, adopted by 168 governments, where the United Nations has developed a program policy for disaster risk reduction, i.e. natural disasters and technological accidents, through five priorities for action, namely: ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation; identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning; use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels; reduce the underlying risk factors; and strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels. Disaster risk reduction requires strong institutional basis which can be attained through capacity building; good governance, promotion of respective program policies and legislation; facilitated flow of information; and effective mechanisms of coordination.
Global security policy as well as national efforts in prevention and elimination of consequences of emergencies are particularly needed and productive at regional level.
Security in the Balkans is more than simple protection from various threats and new challenges; it implies a complex every-day activity related to security and safety of people and environment in cases of various disasters and crises.
Experience points to the need to address disasters which do not recognise borders by taking measures at national, regional and international levels for prevention and elimination of consequences of emergencies, as well as for civil protection and emergency humanitarian interventions, including measures aimed at assisting international development.
The states in the Balkans have different national capacities for civil protection whose increase is necessary and requires additional support that Russia has always and will continue to provide.
Concept of the Emergency Management Center in Nis is to become a regional center with the capacity to provide assistance to the countries of South Eastern Europe, but to the countries of the EU as well, in the event of great forest fires and wildfires, but also in the event of flooding, earthquakes, landslides, chemical incidents and other emergency situations. The idea behind this concept is to have, during the summer which is a high fire risk period, a certain number of Russian firefighting aircrafts stationed in Nis in order to reduce the response time in providing adequate assistance to the countries affected by extremely high temperatures and wildfires. In addition to this, this center would also provide education and training for firefighting and rescue services. The training program would cover topics such as: forest fires and wildfires, floods, earthquakes, landslides, technical-technological incidents, etc.
Overview of the current state of play in the area of protection and rescue in emergency situations in the country, but in the whole region as well, shows that the region of South Eastern Europe is exposed to risks and threats in the area of emergency situations (global climate changes- great droughts, great forest fires, floods, landslides, earthquakes, as well as the technical-technological incidents). There is an obvious need, which has lately become more apparent, for joint response to the mentioned challenges which directly implies the necessity for joint planning, professional advancement and providing equipment to relevant actors and response, protection and relief operations units in emergency situations and catastrophes. The idea for the establishment of the Regional Center for Training and Activity Coordination in Emergency Situations is becoming more apparent. Due to its geographical position it would be optimal to have one center for emergency management and humanitarian assistance established in Nis.
The Center would be a base for training and professional advancement of fire protection and rescue services, namely:
- Chiefs of professional fire protection and rescue services,
- Members of professional fire-rescue units,
- Commanders and members of headquarters for emergency situations,
- Members of the reserve specialized units for civil protection,
- Executives and staff of the organizations qualified to provide rescue and protection services,
- Commanders of territorial and industrial units of civil protection.
The Center is a base for protection and rescue operations, storage and safeguarding of the emergency material reserves which are essential in the performance of protection and rescue activities and operations.
Depending on the vulnerability assessment and the needs of the countries in the region it is possible to alternate the center’s structure, training profiles and center’s equipment which would at the same time represent a humanitarian base with all the necessary technical and material resources (aircrafts- airplanes and helicopters for assistance in different emergency situations and different types of tasks, engineering and equipment for victim aftercare and provision of first aid, etc).
For all these reasons, we strongly support endeavors by the Russian Federation and the present States, which through their efforts and contributions actively participate in this important task with the aim to make the territory of the Republic of Serbia and the South Eastern Europe a safer place for all their citizens.
In addition to the intensive European integration process, decisive fight against organized crime and corruption, as well as all other activities that endanger security of the Republic of Serbia and the safety of its citizens, is among top priorities of the Serbian Government and this Ministry. Standing here today, I do not hesitate to declare, with full responsibility, that we are fully committed to this goal.
One of important reform activities of this Ministry is particularly related to the field of protection and rescue. We have undertaken activities for the establishment of the emergency management service within the Ministry of the Interior, and the Sector for Protection and Rescue has officially become the Sector for Emergency Management with the aim to consolidate all existing resources in protection, rescue and relief in emergency situations.
