On 3rd and 4th September 2021, a two-day event, Pilot action called “Belasica 2021” was organized within the project “Integrated Operational Center for Provision of Humanitarian Assistance – HELP” which is implemented by the Centre for development of the South-East planning region in partnership with the Crisis Management Center and project partners from Greece.
The demonstration exercise on topic fire, “Belasica 2021” was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government Mr. Zoran Dimitrovski, the Manager of the Centre for development of the South-East planning region Ms. Zhulieta Gjurkova, the Director of the exercise Mr. Urim Vejseli and a representative from Municipality of Novo Selo Mr. Tushe Stojanov, who in a welcoming speech highlighted the importance of achieving smooth coordination with neighboring Greece in times of natural disasters, introducing modern tools for rapid response and strengthening the capacity to deal with crises at international level.
After a previously created scenario for dealing with natural disasters, in this case a fire on mountain Belasica, on both sides of the border, field activities took place in the area of Gjavolski Most, Sechena Skala, Sharena cesma, Dzvezden Vrv, Tumba, Hunting House and others named high parts of the mountain where representatives of the Crisis Management Center, representatives of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Red Cross, Firefighting Units, Ministry for internal affairs Strumica and NGOs conducted several firefighting activities using the equipment of the mobile unit Command Center – C4I which is located in Strumica.
The purpose of organizing this event was to inform the public regarding the use of the equipment, information system, disaster mapping, gamification platform, developed disaster management plans in accordance with the national protocols available in the Command Center – C4I, test development events for the use of the equipment, to improve the operational and organizational capabilities of the competent institutions, to improve the level of communication and cooperation with Greece in times of disasters as well as to encourage the active participation of citizens and stakeholders in crisis management activities in order to increase their levels of awareness and reaction.
As first of its kind Command Center for crisis management set up in the country, in the future it is expected to use the equipment optimally, facilitate the work of the competent institutions and connect with the Command Center located in the cross-border region in Greece during natural disasters.
With the organization of the two-day event Pilot Action on topic fire “Belasica 2021”, the Centre for development of the South-East planning region is finishing the project activities that are part of the project “Integrated Operational Center for Humanitarian Assistance – HELP” co-financed by the European Union and National Funds of the participating countries through the Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme between Greece – R. North Macedonia 2014-2020.
