Armen Yeritsyan: Armenia wants to join INSARAG

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia 2010, a consequence management field exercise organized by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) kicked off near the town of Arzni, Kotayk region, with participants from NATO and Partner countries as well as representatives and observers from other international organizations and nations.

“I am glad to welcome all participants in our country, which is situated in a seismic zone. The devastating 1988 earthquake is not forgotten and now Armenia makes another step to lower seismic risks,” RA Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Yeritsyan said.

“The first three days after an earthquake are most important, as during this period it’s still possible to rescue people. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia stands ready to response to disasters. Armenia wants to join the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), which numbers 50 member countries, but we still have much to do for the purpose,” he said.

The exercise brought together 333 experts and observers from 28 countries and five international organizations, as well as 373 representatives of Armenia.

It consists of three stages: Organization of on-site Operations, reception of teams, training for participants and a Command Post Exercise (September 11-13, 2010), Field activities at the exercise sites (September 14-15, 2010); Evaluation, VIP day, demonstrations and a closing ceremony (September 15-16, 2010).

The scenario for the exercise is a severe earthquake in the vicinity of Yerevan on September 11, resulting in high numbers of victims and widespread damage to critical infrastructure, including chemical spills and a radiological incident.