On January 22, All-Ukrainian association of local self-governments «Association of Amalgamated territorial communities» and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine signed a joint Statement of Intent to implement the project “Module HCP: Ukraine’s Collaboration with the EU in Emergency Response”. This initiative is being implemented under the European Union Grant Agreement and aims to increase the fire and rescue capabilities of rescuers and strengthen the material and technical base of the SES.
The project includes:
- purchase of modern equipment, including powerful European-style motorized pumps to fight floods and forest fires;
- renewal of outdated equipment;
- development and implementation of training programs for personnel on the use of new equipment and modern response methods;
- raising the level of awareness and preparedness of community residents for emergencies;
- strengthening cooperation with European partners in the field of civil protection and improving public safety.
Oleksandr Korinnyi, Chairman, All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities and Mayor of Novoukrayinka, emphasized that communities have not only actively supported, are supporting and will continue to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the fight against the enemy, but also care about supporting the real heroes of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU).
«The emergency rescue services of the SES are reliable partners who always rush to the aid of local communities in case of trouble with their equipment, which, unfortunately, is extremely lacking because it is lost as a result of Russian aggression. That is why the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities has been actively involved in the process of obtaining a grant on a competitive basis – international technical assistance from the European Union to improve the material and technical base of the SES and significantly increase the fire and rescue capabilities of rescuers», – said Oleksandr Korinnyi.
The Chairman of the Association also noted that there are already examples of successful cooperation between the member communities of the «ASSOCIATION OF ATC» All-Ukrainian Association of l.s.g. and the territorial units of the SES to create voluntary fire brigades that can respond quickly to fires and other hazards caused by floods.
In addition, an international forum is planned in Poland in the near future with the support of the EU, which will become a platform for strengthening cooperation in the field of civil protection and improving security not only for communities but also for the state as a whole.
The implementation of the project is an important step in strengthening partnership with the EU and will demonstrate to European partners that cooperation between the SES and the All-Ukrainian Association of ATCs is not only possible but also capable of implementing global government projects.
The project is implemented with the support of the European Commission under the European Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).