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Disaster Management Training Programme

The Disaster Management Training Programme (DMTP) plays a key role in strengthening disaster risk management capacities across DPPI SEE member states. It supports the professional development of civil protection personnel through thematic workshops, seminars, conferences, simulation exercises, and expert exchanges. The DMTP addresses priority areas in disaster preparedness and prevention, while promoting alignment with EU, UN, and other international standards and practices. Developed in close cooperation with member states, the programme fosters knowledge sharing, regional coordination, and improved interoperability in emergency situations.
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The aim of the training was to promote ethical, inclusive, rights-based and people centered humanitarian response in urban contexts via the proper application of Sphere Standards. Total number of 15 participants from 8 DPPI SEE member states followed the training which is being implemented for the first time in a classroom format. The training audience was a mix between civil protection experts and the ones from the Red Cross societies. Some of the Sphere trainers that were produced last year also attended. This training was organized under the framework of the preparations for DPPI FLEX 2023 simulation exercise happening in October.


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Forest fires conference in Podgorica, Montenegro covered the topics of fire prevention and response. DPPI SEE member states used it to share their activities on both prevention and preparedness for response. Case studies of response operations were presented and examples of good practices were shared. On the second day of the conference a study visit to the fire station in Bar was conducted whihc enabled the participants to listen to the first line responders how they are organized and prepared for the upcoming fire season. This was a joint event hosted by the Protection and Rescue Directorate of Montenegro and Sector for Emergency Situations of Republic of Serbia.

Presentations


The recently established DPPI SEE Working Group on Risk Assessments had its first online meeting on the 31 March 2023. The suggestion to have a permanent structure within DPPI SEE that will exchange on current activities, trends and challenges on risk assessment came up as an outcome of our workshop held in Belgrade last year. Acknowledging the importance of the risk assessments the 44.DPPI SEE Regional meeting approved the creation of the working group. During the meeting updates on national processes have been shared and the latest results from the sub-national Risk Inform Index for Albania, Montenegro, N. Macedonia and Romania were presented. The next meeting will be scheduled in the 2nd half of 2023.

On the 29th of March, Head of Secretariat visited RACVIAC - Center for security cooperation in Croatia. The meeting was used to explore possibilities and put into practice the collaboration agreement that was signed between the two organization in 2010. Upon the presentation of RACVIAC, Head of Secretariat elaborated the organizational structure and the mandate of DPPI SEE and informed the colleagues in RACVIAC about the priorities for 2023. The meeting was concluded with the intention to join forces and try to organize at least one training event in 2024. Details for that event will follow as soon as the planning process for 2024 starts in both DPPI SEE and RACVIAC.

On 30.03 we had a pleasure to host representatives from IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina and Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting was used to share updates on current and planned activities in all 3 organization. Potential areas of collaboration in 2023 are seen in the context of the upcoming field exercise DPPI FLEX 2023 that will be organized in October. As part of the scenario for the exercise, camp management and camp coordination is envisaged and we are counting on the support from both IOM and Red Cross Society in designing a meaningful scenario.


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The 3rd event this year was the workshop on Building capacities to respond to large open space fires – the model of organizing and functioning of the air force, renting and purchasing aircrafts. It was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sector for Protection and Rescue and included 45 participants on site and 27 participants online. During the workshop the participants had the possibilities to listen how the host country is organized when aerial firefighting is concerned and also to hear about their utilization of various decision support systems such as NICS. Experts from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, N.Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia also had the chance to present their organizational structures and way of business. General impression from the workshop is that although aerial firefighting is one of the priorities of the national civil protection authorities across the region it is followed by many challenges. As there is no single model how to organize the aerial firefighting this process requires strategic planning and taking into consideration all the specifics that the nation has. What works in one country might not work in another. The consensus in the group about the main challenge in aerial firefighting is continuous investment in aviation on both levels – equipment and staff.

Presentations:


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At the last 44.DPPI SEE Regional meeting held in Dubrovnik, Croatia member states have agreed to work together in organizing a simulation exercise within the DPPI SEE training program for 2023. This decision had two preconditions: 1. To identify the host country for the exercise and 2.To have a draft concept for the exercise itself. Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sector for rescue and protection took the initiative and accepted the challenging task to host the first ever field simulation exercise organized in the framework of DPPI SEE. The second precondition was also met and a draft concept for the simulation exercise was prepared building the exercise around a flood scenario and testing the response capabilities of drone teams, logistics and camp management.

The 1st Planning conference held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina had the purpose of identification of the exercise objectives, exercise design and the training needs. 57 participants representing 9 DPPI SEE member states came to Sarajevo and actively contributed to the objectives of the conference. In addition to the work done we have also identified the name of the exercise itself, DPPI FLEX 2023. Next steps are scenario planning and training preparations for the respective teams in accordance to the identified needs for the exercise.


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The conference in Bucharest was the 1st event in DPPI SEE training program for 2023. Hosted by the Department for Emergency Situations of Republic of Romania, the event focused on the importance of risk information as foundation for effective disaster risk reduction. Trusted, accurate and widely used risk information saves lives, particularly when it reaches ‘the last mile’ and is put into practice to protect vulnerable communities, goods and systems. It is crucial that risk information is understandable and accessible to anyone who would use it, and addresses the systemic, cascading, and compounding, nature of risk – so that it may build societal resilience. Total number of 17 participants were supported by DPPI SEE and took active participation in both the technical session and the high level round table on the 24th February. The conference was also used for many bilateral meeting pushing forward the agenda for disaster risk reduction in Europe.


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The objective of the seminar was to share practical examples on business continuity planning and critical infrastructure protection in context of disaster management. During the days of the seminar member states had valuable exchange on industrial accidents prevention and discussed options for future collaboration. Each country contributed by making a presentation to the seminar attended by representatives of 9 DPPI member  countries, including Türkiye. The opening speeches of the seminar were made by Ercan AKAR, İstanbul AFAD Provincial Director and Gökhan YILMAZ, Head of AFAD Presidency Risk Determination and Prevention Department. Country representatives also visited the İstanbul Provincial AFAD Training Center and a briefing on disaster education was made by the center director. During the visit the participants had the chance to see the earthquake simulator, observe a flood simulation and visit the rescue dogs training center.


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The last event under Disaster Management Training Program for 2022 was held in Podgorica, Montenegro on the topic of civil protection training centers. The workshop was held in the newly established civil protection training center and this was the first international event held there. Opening of the training center in Podgorica is yet another important achievement of the Protection and Rescue Directorate of Montenegro and the workshop was used to exchange on existing structures of similar nature in the other member states, programs that are taking place in their training centers and what are the modalities for collaboration between the various training centers. The conclusions from the workshop which will be presented to the next DPPI SEE Regional meeting are that Disaster Management Training Program can be used further more to promote the work of the existing training centers of the member states and second, creating an online library within DPPI SEE on topics relevant for the training centers will be useful to have.


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Cave rescue Training - 2013 was jointly organized by Croatian mountain rescue service - Commission for speleological rescue with the support of the Croatian National Protection and Rescue Directorate and by Cave rescue Service of Slovenia in the frame of DPPI SEE.

     

This training was already the fifth in the row. The first training was organized in 2009 in Montenegro, then in 2010 in Macedonia, in 2011 in Bulgaria and in 2012 in Slovenia. All together there were more than 100 participants from DPPI SEE member countries trained in cave rescue techniques.

    

Slovenian cave rescue service and Croatian mountain rescue service made an important in 2012 by applying for European funds whereby these were awarded the funds for the implementation of the European project EU Proteus (ending in December 2013. Within the project PROTEUS a large-scale exercise PARADANA 2013 was carried out in Slovenia (August 2013). In this exercise all civil protection units worked together in a scenario of an accident that occurred in the cave deep about five hundred meters. Also 150 caving rescuers from Slovenia and Croatia were participating in the exercise. The evaluators assessed the exercise as a very well implemented.

The DPPI SEE Cave rescue training was attended by 20 (twenty) cavers from: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Slovenia.

Responsible instructors: Ales Cedilnik and Marko Zibelnik from Training center for civil protection and disaster relief of Slovenija; Walter Zakrajšek , Aleš S. Stražar,  Marko Erkar and Bernard Štiglic from Cave rescue service of Slovenia and Ljubo Majica and Ivica Ćukošić  of  Croatian mountain rescue service .


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This training was hosted and organised by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief and supported by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency. The venue of the training was the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in Ig near Ljubljana (Slovenia). The training represented Slovenian contribution to the DPPI SEE Disaster Management Programme 2012.

Training objectives
 
At the training the participants gained theoretical knowledge and basic practical skills in the field of fire extinguishing, known as hot fire/flashover training.The training therefore improved the participants’ knowledge of basic skills and techniques of fire-fighting and basic operational procedures for indoor fires. Generally the training also intends to raise awareness on procedures and practices of fire development and behaviour in different scenarios.
 
Target audience
 
The training was intended for professional operational fire-fighters and commanders from the DPPI SEE countries (1-2 per country).
 
Methodology
 
The training was implemented as a combined structure of theoretical lectures and practical work given and supervised by the licensed teachers and instructors who were trained by the Swedish Rescue Services Agency. The training ‘’Hot Fire Training - module A’’ is proved and signed by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia.

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This training was hosted and organised by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. The venue of the training was the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, Unit Sežana (TC), Slovenia. The training represented Slovenian contribution to the DPPI SEE Disaster Management Programme 2012.
Training objectives
During the 8-day training there were 80 hours of various lessons, which took form of lectures, short demonstrations and practical work in smaller caves for consolidation of knowledge and bigger final exercise of the cave rescue activities.
Training was based on various practical exercises and theoretical knowledge, which were necessary for successful rescue activity and even for the prevention of accidents in the caves. 
Extract from contents:

  • Cave conservation;
  • Single rope technique – Alpine style;
  • Procedures for accident in the cave;
  • Examination of the victim;
  • Setting up of evacuation and transport systems and learning rescue manoeuvres;
  • Preparation and evacuation of a victim/stretcher;
  • Planning cave rescue and importance of exercise/rescue analysis;
  • Setting up rescue units for international intervention;
  • Presentation of various specialties inside the rescue services.

Target audience
The programme was primarily aimed at volunteer speleologists of caving clubs, fire-fighters, police officers, soldiers, health workers and other interested protection, rescue and relief forces whose members had passed the speleologist’s examination or had completed equivalent national programmes for independent caving activity and have sufficient experience in the field with excellent knowledge of rope technique (SRT). All participants had to demonstrate in practice on the first day of training that they have the required level of knowledge.
Methodology
The training was implemented as a combined structure of theoretical lectures and practical work given and supervised by the licensed teachers and instructors from the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Republic of Slovenia (ACPDR). The training programme ‘’Cave Rescuer’’ is approved and signed by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia.


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The three-day conference covered a variety of subjects such as, and inter alia, Environmental Safety, Technologies and Equipment for environmental assessment and protection, Emergency situations and disaster management, Environmental impact assessment and sustainable development, Environmental health, etc.

Following numerous presentations delivered by a number of speakers, both national and international, on Day I and II of the conference, a field trip with the working title “Awareness and preparedness for emergencies at local level” was organized on Day III of the conference whereby the participants were introduced to critical infrastructure elements as potential risks to community safety in Somesul Cald Valley.


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This training was Republic of Turkey’s contribution to the Disaster Management Training Programme for 2012 within the scope of DPPI SEE DMTP Annual Work Plan and was hosted by Prime Ministry, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

Background:

The literal meaning of “psycho-social" is the dynamic relationship of psychological and social impacts which continuously interact with each other. On the other hand, this term can be defined as a body of multi-disciplinary services provided at every phase of the disaster cycle and entailing disaster psycho-social support; the prevention of any likely post-disaster psychological disharmony/disorder; restoring and the rehabilitation of relationships both at the family and community levels; ensuring that those affected recognize their capacities and are strengthened in the normalizing process; the increase of communal coping/relief/recovery skills in the probable future disasters and emergencies; and the provision of support to relief workers.


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Joint Firefighting Unit Refresher Training was the Croatian contribution for 2012 to the Disaster Management Training Programme ofthe Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South EasternEurope (DPPI SEE) and it was organized by the DPPI and NationalProtection and Rescue Directorate.
Training was held from 5 to 11 May 2012 in the Firefighting Operations
Centre of the National Protection and Rescue Directorate in Divulje near Split.


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The course was organized and hosted by the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief at the Training Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in Ig near Ljubljana (Slovenia). The course represented Slovenian contribution to the DPPI SEE Disaster Management Training Programme 2011.

     
    The course objectives
    The course focused on increasing participants’ effectiveness in reading and writing documents related to disaster management. After the course, participants:
    • Became familiar with the basic terminology used in disaster management.
    • Learned the terminology used in relevant documents and correspondence.
    • Were able to read documents, such as EURATOM Acts and EU Council Decisions, and other texts related to this field, understand key points and most details.
    • Were able to understand authentic European Commission Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) messages, assessments and situation reports.
    • Were able to write MIC messages, assessments and short situation reports, based on given scenarios, to express ideas in a properly organized manner demonstrating a suitable control of basic grammatical structures.
    • Were able to identify and correct language mistakes in the above mentioned correspondence.
     
    Target audience
    The course was intended for senior civil protection operational experts or advisers for international affairs that needed to understand the documents and communication in English language, particularly when they were involved in communication/correspondence in relation to provision of mutual assistance in disasters. The representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey participated in the course.

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    The course was organised within the DPPI SEE/ Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative (CADRI)/ Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) DRR project (Phase II) and hosted by Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. The course represented Romanian contribution to the DPPI SEE Disaster Management Training Programme 2011

    The aim of the course was to support the development of disaster risk reduction capacity at all levels within the South East European region governments and organizations in order to improve their ability to better understand and manage the variety of disasters the region faces nowadays.

    Representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Turkey participated in the course.


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    The Command, Control and Coordination (C3) Course is the first in the set of activities planned within the DPPI SEE JERU project work plan. The course was organized by the Sector for Emergency Management of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia in the framework of the Initiative.
     
    The main objective of the course is to prepare team leaders of JERU Flood response teams of the South East Europe for interventions in case of floods in the area of the South Eastern Europe, in addition to increasing their awareness and knowledge of the international disaster operations and enhancing their capability to lead their respective units in a multi-task and multi-stakeholder international environment. Moreover, course will provide opportunity to increase their knowledge of international response systems and coordination mechanisms and the role of team leaders in mission cycle, improve teamwork skills and integrate these in the existing national and international coordination arrangements in a disaster-affected country, as well as to discuss previous experiences in particular those where special expertise was required and/or used.
     
    The course target audience are nominated team leaders of flood response teams from SEE and their replacements. Participants should have diverse background in national flood response operations and comprehensive knowledge of all team functions, comprehensive knowledge of water rescue techniques, tactics, tools and equipment and be familiar with composition of their team.


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    Training Objectives  
    The course intended to provide practical and theoretical training in  Disaster risk reduction. It was designed and run by group of experts  from DPPI states and international partner organizations, such as the  International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).   
    Aim of the course  
    The aim of the course was to support the development of disaster risk  reduction capacity at all levels within the South East European region  governments and organizations in order to improve their ability to  better understand and manage the variety of disasters the region faces  today. All participants of the course received a training certificate. Based on  their facilitation skills, some participants from the course were  selected to participate in a Training-of-Trainers in 2011 in Croatia to  become the main resources for DRR training in the region. In addition,  they were included in a pool of DRR expert database to be developed by  UNISDR for DPPI SEE.  
     Target Audience  
    The candidates had to fulfill the following criteria: - Work in an organization engaged in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction - Minimum of 3 years experience in topics related to natural disasters - Fluency in English