Belarusian, Latvian and Lithuanian rescuers are developing an interaction plan for chemical emergencies

On June 27, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Rescuers from three neighbouring countries are starting to develop an operational interaction plan in case of a chemical accident with transboundary consequences in the Belarus-Latvia-Lithuania region. The first seminar on partners' experience exchange within the EU project "Creation of a common response system to chemical releases and oil spills into the Western Dvina (Daugava) River during winter" started today in Vitebsk, Marina Fando, press secretary of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, told a BELTA correspondent. Belarusian, Latvian, and Lithuanian rescuers are participating in the seminar. Along with the draft notification and interaction schemes for partners in case of the occurrence or threat of a chemical accident with transboundary consequences in the Belarus-Latvia-Lithuania region, foreign guests will be introduced to the activities of the "Vityaz" fire and rescue squad of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, will visit the Novopolotsk fire and rescue unit and the "Polimir" plant fire and rescue squad of OJSC "Naftan", and will familiarise themselves with OJSC "Polotsktransneft "Druzhba". The seminar will run until June 29.

The project "Creation of a common system for responding to chemical emissions and oil spills in the Western Dvina (Daugava) River during winter" is being implemented under the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus cross-border cooperation programme. Its beneficiary is the State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia. Partners include the Utena Fire and Rescue Department (Lithuania); the Vitebsk Regional Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Republican Special Purpose Unit of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus. The cross-border territory is characterised by a concentration of a large number of chemical industrial enterprises and a dense transport network, which creates a potential threat of chemical accidents in the region. Untimely or inadequate response to the consequences of oil spills or chemical emissions can cause damage to extensive territories of neighbouring countries. Effective emergency response capable of solving this problem can only be ensured by pooling the resources of neighbouring countries, using a cross-border approach. The project aims to enhance the level of environmental safety in the region, improve the qualifications of rescuers, and develop an operational management plan for the three countries; to improve the technical capabilities of partners through the acquisition of modern equipment for responding to oil spills and chemical emissions in winter. Professional training and a full-scale winter cross-border exercise on oil spill response on the Daugava River are planned within the project. The EU will allocate over 880 thousand euros for the implementation of the project.

BELTA