On October 17 a workshop on "Increasing awareness on disaster risk reduction" was held in the Municipality of Vanadzor town on the initiative of the Public Communication and Awareness Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Crisis Management National Center of the Rescue Service.

The representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, employees of the Structural and Regional Departments of the Rescue Service, representatives of the Lori Regional Administration, the heads of 11 communities of the province, the Directors of public and higher education institutions, the representatives of medical centers and non-governmental organizations participated in it.

The purpose of the workshop was to promote cooperation between state administration and local self-government bodies aimed at increasing disaster resilience, strengthening risk management systems, community preparedness and public awareness.

Narek Sargsyan, Press Secretary of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Head of Public Communication and Awareness Department of the MIA emphasized in his speech that the most effective methods to protect against disasters were to conduct regular preventive measures from public administration system to community level to require joint work and a long-term vision, as well as individual responsibility.

Mher Khechumyan, Head of the Regional Management and Local Self-Government Department of  Lori Regional Administration expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for holding the event especially in Lori province. He noted that local authorities face the threat of disasters daily and there was a need to use available and effective disaster risk reduction strategies and mechanisms in order to effectively solve these issues.

The main professional structural departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the representatives of the Rescue Service also discussed of the topic of the agenda. In particular, the employee of the Strategic Planning, Policy and Monitoring Department Ani Yeghikyan presented details on the challenges in the field of disaster risk management, the development of an effective system. Ara Aslanyan, the Head of the Post-Disaster Recovery Management Division of the Disaster and other Emergency Situations Management Department introduced the measures taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the disaster area, as well as the international assistance provided.

Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, the Head of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Division of the Population Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction Department of the Rescue Service of MIA of RA emphasized the natural and man-made risks threatening Armenia, the need to form and develop a disaster risk management system at the community level, identify vulnerabilities and capacities, map, respond to emergency situations, and increase the preparedness of the population, as well as the existing issues and their solutions.

Lianna Abrahamyan, the Head of the Information Provision and Statistics Department of the Crisis Management National Center of the Rescue Service of MIA of RA presented the mechanisms of public awareness and crisis communication talking about awareness processes, crisis communication, early warning, operational information management and access, strengthening cooperation with communities.

Active discussion took place during the workshop.

Summarizing the workshop, Narek Sargsyan noted that disaster prevention and results elimination were most effective when every member of society recognizes their responsibility. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts at local, community and national levels, which will contribute to a vision of a more prepared, resilient and safe country.