On October 14, the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in cooperation with the Governor's staff of Ararat province, Vedi community administration and other partners conducted a comprehensive training exercise in Pokr Vedi community. Although the actions were scenario-based, the goal was real: to strengthen the preparedness in emergency situations, improve response and recovery capabilities of the community.

“The topic of the exercise is the organization of population protection in the community in case of a dam collapse of Vedi reservoir. The exercise consists of two stages. The theoretical stage was held at the Vedi community administration. Now the practical stage is underway and children are being accepted”, noted Gurgen Martirosyan, Head of the Population Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction Department of the  Rescue Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The rescue and disaster recovery units participated, ready for the unexpected development of the scenario situation. Special engineering equipment was also on site.

In the evacuation area, residents were first registered, their primary needs were recorded, and then, as necessary, they were provided with psychological or medical assistance and necessary life-support measures were also carried out.

According to Ani Harutyunyan, instructor-psychologist of the Psychological Assistance Division of the PAMC Department of the Rescue Service of RA MIA, it was mandatory to provide first psychological aid to both children and adults, because the first stress-causing factors can later become the cause of more profound psychological problems, such as anxiety, fear and stress.

Psychological Assistance specialists assessed psychological state of the people through individual interviews and provided counseling, helping to overcome stress and emotional tension.

Employees of the First Aid Department of the Armenian Red Cross Society were also carrying out coordinated activity.

“The Armenian Red Cross Society has always supported and is in favor of conducting such exercises in the communities of the republic and is always present with first aid and rapid response teams and ensures first aid and response operations”, said the Head of the First Aid Department of the Yerevan Branch of the Armenian Red Cross Society Vazgen Bejanyan.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, emphasizing the development of disaster resilience capabilities and strengthening community-private sector cooperation, attaches importance to the continuous implementation of such events in different regions.