Farewell To Emergency Aid Preparedness Training

Cooperation network established before implementing practical activities
On October 23 in UN building a seminar within “Emergency Aid Preparedness” project took place with the participation of 15 representatives from ART and UMCOR partner NGOs and Church structures. The training was dedicated to the issues of international response mechanisms, disaster cycle and basics of contingency planning. The trainer was Ms. Nino Antadze, UNDP Armenia Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor, former director of OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) in Georgia. The participants got acquainted with the interrelation issues of disasters and development, evolution of international disaster response, the role of UN and use of UN tools for disaster response. Ms. Antadze also spoke of the structure of UNDP Disaster Management Team and its cooperation with government.
A short video film was presented to the audience on importance of prophylactic activities in order to stop natural disasters from happening. At the end of the day the participants were requested to fill in special questionnaires revealing their assessment of the training and were strongly encouraged to continue work on developing the emergency plans of their offices. This training was the last meeting within the framework of the “Emergency Aid Preparedness” project, and at parting trainees expressed desire to have the continuation of similar trainings as during the project duration they found useful knowledge and made new friends.