On September 26, toptable exercise on "Organizing measures for the protection of the population in case of a strong earthquake", as well as a professional training session were organized by the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Syunik province.

The exercise involved personnel from the MIA’s Rescue Service departments for population protection and disaster risk reduction, Syunik Regional Rescue Departments, police subdivisions, regional state administration bodies, the Syunik Governor’s Office, as well as representatives from public service providers and key organizations such as “Veolia Jur”, “Electric Networks of Armenia”, “Gazprom Armenia”, “Viva Armenia”, “Ucom”, “Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine”, , “Kapan Mining and Processing Plant”, “Kapan Medical Center” CJSCs, as well as “Syunik Airport” LLC and “Telecom Armenia” JSC.

The purpose of the event was to assess the response to the consequences of the strong earthquake in Syunik province, to identify organizational and logistical capabilities, as well as to analyse the operation of systems operating in emergency situations.

The training was launched with welcoming remarks by the Director of RS-Deputy Minister of IA Kamo Tsutsulyan, and the Governor of Syunik Robert Ghukasyan.

Kamo Tsutsulyan highlighted the role of such exercises, considering them as practical platforms where a culture of unified response is formed, experience is transferred and professional knowledge and skills were developed. He mentioned that the involvement of the participants proves that the structures operating in Syunik fully realize the importance and priority of being prepared for emergency situations.

The exercise was conducted in two phases. In each phase, participants were presented with a total of 50 tasks, which allowed them to assess their orientation, quick response and cooperation skills.

During the exercise, headquarters actions and information exchange mechanisms were simulated, and response operations were organized. Special attention was paid to identifying potential issues in risk sectors and developing ways to solve them.

At the end of the exercise, the participants filled out evaluation forms, the results of which will be used for the organization, planning and methodological improvement of similar events in the future. 

The results of the event will also serve to strengthen the already existing systems, the identified gaps will be used to organize appropriate corrective activities.

The exercise was followed by a command professional training session on "Organization of population protection in case of a nuclear accident at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant" led by the RS Director at Syunik Regional Rescue Department, which was aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of the leadership of the structural and regional departments of the Rescue Service.