10/10/2007 Yerevan, 10 October 2007 - Today the United Nations Armenia Office commemorated the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, adopted in 2001 to reduce the collective vulnerability to natural and man-made hazards. Since then the Day is celebrated worldwide to emphasize the urgency to engage fully in disaster risk reduction. To mark the Day, the United Nations Disaster Management Team, comprised of all the UN Agencies that work in Armenia and the Armenian Rescue Service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration signed an Agreement on Cooperation on disaster management activities in the country. The Parties agreed on cooperation in two main areas: 1) information exchange on issues related to disaster management, including preparedness, and 2) collaboration arrangements in the event of an emergency. It also included arrangements for assessment, information management, communication and co-ordination and ensured complementary activities in the event of disaster.
As a mechanism for emergency preparedness and response coordination, the UN DMT, comprises of the UN Agencies and Red Cross Society of Armenia and is chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator. The Team aims to facilitate prompt, effective and concerted country-level response and ensures co-ordination of international assistance to the government in respect to emergency response, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and disaster mitigation.
In his opening speech Lieutenant-General Edik Barseghyan stressed the importance of joint efforts in disaster management and risk reduction activities. ‘The cooperation in such activities and professional support highly contribute to the efficiency of the measures taken: UN DMT and ARS agreement is the official record of such cooperation.' ‘Disaster reduction is everyone's responsibility and the way forward is to work together with the national institutions, donor community, civil society and public at large', UN Resident Coordinator Ms Consuelo Vidal mentioned in her speech.
The official signing preceded the awards giving ceremony to the winners of the school competition held by the Armenian Rescue Service within the scope of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign "Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School". Aimed to mobilize schools and communities in making disaster risk an integral part of school curricula, the competition in Armenia was entitled ‘Disasters through Children's Eyes' and was held in Gegharkunik, Tavush and Vayots Dzor provinces. As mentioned by Nikolay Grigoryan, Advisor to the Armenian Rescue Service Director, the competition managed to raise schoolchildren's awareness about natural disasters, means of preparedness and mitigations. The central idea was imparting knowledge about such issues, which plays a crucial role in preventing them and reducing the risk.
The 3 winners in the paintings category and 3 best essay writers received DVD players from the Armenian Rescue Service. The 6 schoolchildren also received UN literature and UNICEF gift packages. Special UNICEF award went to Nerkin Getashen school in Gegharkunik region, which has distinguished itself with the exerted efforts and the wonderful art pieces presented at the competition. A display of the best paintings and essays from the participant provinces was held at the UN House lobby.
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