On March 1, the World Civil Defense Day is celebrated. This year marks 31 years since the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations became a full and active member of the International Civil Defense Organization (hereinafter referred to as ICDO). Following the results of the 56th meeting of the Executive Council of the ICDO of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, which took place in October last year, it was unanimously elected as its chairman. This allows the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations to implement the most important projects to promote international development under the auspices of the organization.
ICDO is the only intergovernmental organization that specializes in the field of civil defense and public protection at the international level.
Founded in 1931 in Paris, the "Association of Geneva Zones" - the ancestor of today's International Civil Defense Organization - was created to provide assistance to children, women, the elderly and the disabled in case of war.
Now, this Organization, headquartered in Geneva, unites the civil defense services of sixty countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the CIS. This allows us to consolidate the efforts of the international community in responding to natural and man-made emergencies.
“Over the years of cooperation with the International Civil Defense Organization, the Russian Federation, represented by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, has made a significant contribution to the strengthening and development of civil defense at the international level. The accumulated experience of Russian rescuers and modern technologies confirm the important role of our country in the international civil defense system. Over the past few years, the Russian National Emergency Humanitarian Response Corps has carried out more than 240 humanitarian operations. Assistance was provided to the population of 30 countries, including countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Over these years, humanitarian assistance has been provided to millions of citizens around the world,” noted the Head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations Alexander Kurenkov.
To ensure a humanitarian response to emergency situations, humanitarian centers continue to operate in the territories of Armenia, Serbia and Cuba.
An effective mechanism for the work of the ICDO is the provision of humanitarian assistance in strengthening the capacity of the national rescue services of the Organization's member countries. The Russian Federation is a strategic partner.
ICDO provides ample opportunities in the education and training of specialists in fire and rescue specialties under short-term retraining and advanced training programs in leading educational institutions of the Organization’s member countries (for example, in universities of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations).
As part of the XIV International Salon of Security Equipment “Integrated Security - 2023”, a bilateral meeting between Minister Alexander Kurenkov and ICDO Secretary General Mariatu Yap was held in Moscow last June.
Last year, representatives of emergency departments and rescue services of the ICDO member countries took part in the interdepartmental experimental research exercise of RSChS forces and means in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation “Safe Arctic - 2023”, in Murmansk. More than 40 foreign colleagues from 16 countries (Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mozambique, Mongolia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini) took part in the Exercise.
Also, on the basis of the University of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus in Minsk, the VI meeting of the Scientific and Educational Committee of the ICDO (Committee of Heads of Educational Institutions of the ICDO member countries) was organized and held.
As part of its work in the ICDO, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations plans to expand and strengthen the response and educational mechanisms of the Organization’s work, as well as pay attention to practical training of personnel.
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