European Union continues extending vital assistance for stronger emergency management and civil protection in Georgia
EU provides another set of high-technology equipment package to prepare Georgia’s emergency responders for modern crises.
On 27 September, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia officially handed over another set of high-technology equipment including water rescue, mine rescue, fire inspection and special training equipment to the Emergency Management Service (EMS) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) under its SAFE programme. The equipment was procured by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which is one of the implementing partners of the EU SAFE.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Georgia, Mr. Nicholas Cendrowicz, UNOPS Georgia Country Manager, Mr. Claude-André Nadon and the Deputy Head of Emergency Management Service Mr. Zurab Pavliashvili and EMS management.
Nicholas Cendrowicz, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Georgia: “We are happy to be able to equip Georgia’s Emergency Management Service to better prepare them for modern crises. Everyday, we are witnessing the devastating results of climate change. Recent emergencies highlight the need for robust emergency management mechanisms. We hope the donated equipment and the complementary technical assistance will help EMS to improve its response to emergencies and disasters and better protect the health and lives of people living in Georgia.”
This particular procurement package will help the EMS to carry out swift water rescue operations using specific equipment on and under the water, conduct effective mine rescue operations using specialised equipment as well as fire safety examination and inspection of facilities to build disaster-resistant communities and special training equipment for EMS Training Center.
Nino Barkaia, Head of International Relations Division at EMS: “We would like to express our gratitude to the European Union and UNOPS for their continued assistance in equipping our firefighters and rescue teams with very important equipment. This contribution will play an important role in the development of the institutional capacity of our service. It’s also worth highlighting the importance of strengthening the capabilities of the training center in the areas of water and mountain rescue operations.”
The first batch of equipment was provided to EMS in December 2022 that included victim search equipment for land, sea and mountains, high-mobility vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, skiing equipment, and drones for search and rescue operations. The equipment proved to be very valuable during the recent emergencies, including devastating landslides and rampant forest fires, taking place in Georgia.
“We are particularly delighted that the procurement set today includes the special training equipment for EMS Training Center that will be excessively used during the institutional and operational capacity building activities undertaken by the project. Through a range of activities including training, tabletop and field exercises, workshops, and more, the project is geared to prepare the key personnel to be more responsive and efficient in emergency management,” explained Claude-Andre Nadon, Country Director for UNOPS Georgia.
Besides procurement, within the frameworks of the Project the European Union helps to improve regulatory and operational frameworks and increase technological capabilities to ensure that Georgia’s civil protection system aligns with European and international standards. Intensive training programs have started for EMS instructors, firefighters and rescuers, delivered by the international experts. The basic, vocational and on-duty training programmes include courses for water, fire and mountain search and rescue, mine and robe rescue as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incident response and rescue of persons with disabilities.
Total value of the Support to Advancing Technical Capacities for Ensuring Human Security project implemented by UNOPS is EUR 6.5 million, out of which approximately EUR2,5 million is allocated to provide procurement and technical assistance to the EMS. The Project is part of a wider EU4 Security, Accountability and Fight Against Crime in Georgia (EU SAFE) initiative that aims to contribute to the increased efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of institutions in the Georgian security sector.
For further information, please contact:
Tatia Khubulava, Communications Senior Officer, UNOPS, tatiak@unops.org