Serbia is an European leader in disaster risk reduction

Wednesday, 07 September 2011 15:13

Belgrade, September 7: Thirty Serbian municipalities and cities received certificates from the United Nations for their commitment to disaster resilience and joined a global United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UN DRR) global campaign called “Making Cities Resilient – My City is Getting Ready. ”

Margareta Wahlström, the United Nations’ Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, awarded the certificates today at the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade. 

“Urban risk reduction delivers many benefits,” Ms. Wahlström said.  “Resilient cities help reduce poverty, provide for growth and employment, and deliver greater social equity, fresh business opportunities, more balanced ecosystems, better health, and improved education.”

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PPES donations helps educate Zrenjanin students in fire safety and helps first responders save lives

Tuesday, 23 August 2011 12:46

Zrenjanin: All Zrenjanin elementary schools will display PPES-donated posters that inform children what to do in case of a fire.  The poster campaign is part of a larger PPES-supported activity launched by the Ministry of Interior’s Sector for Emergency Management (SEM) in April 2010 to promote fire prevention among children and their families. 

The local fire brigade also received a donation of a glass removal kit allowing them to quickly and safely extract traffic accident victims trapped inside their vehicles.  Zrenjanin is one of three fire brigades selected to receive the glass kits based on the professionalism exhibited during recent simulation exercises delivered by the Red Cross of Serbia and is the final activity of the FY 2011 sub-grant to the Serbian Red Cross. Presentations to Kragujevac and Krusevac fire brigades are planned in September.

Simulations help Sjenica update emergency response protocols; more than 700 first responders trained nationwide

Tuesday, 19 July 2011 18:12

Sjenica, July 14/15: More than 50 local emergency managers, including Sjenica’s Mayor in his capacity as Head of the Disaster Management Team, tested their first response skills for forest fires, floods and large-scale traffic accidents during a table-top simulation this past July 14-15.  

With this eleventh and final simulation, more than 700 first responders were trained from eight communities: Arilje, Dimitrovgrad, Kanjiza, Kragujevac, Krupanj, Krusevac, Sjenica and Zrenjanin. Delivered by the Red Cross of Serbia (RCS) and funded by the PPES program, the simulations allowed first responders to update and/or create emergency response protocols to cut response time and red tape to improve rescue efforts.

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USAID PPES Certifies A New Group of Ten Municipalities as Enhanced Disaster Resilient

Monday, 11 July 2011 16:05

Belgrade, July 8: Municipalities of Bujanovac, Knjazevac, Kula, Loznica, Nova Varos, Novi Knezevac, Opovo, Priboj, Svrljig and Vladimirci were recognized for their improved ability to better plan for and manage disasters. 

Municipal representatives in attendance received certificates from Deputy Chief of Mission Lee Litzenberger and Assistant Minister of Interior and Head of the Sector for Emergency Management Predrag Maric. 

To earn Enhanced Disaster Resilience status, local governments completed a series of trainings provided by USAID's Preparedness and Planning program and had to draft and adopt in their local parliaments three key documents - a decision on the formation of a local disaster management team, a comprehensive risk assessment and an emergency plan for flood management.  To date, a total of 62 municipalities have achieved Enhanced Disaster Resilience certification.

Please follow the link above for more information on the event.

Read more: USAID PPES Certifies A New Group of Ten Municipalities as Enhanced Disaster Resilient