Category: News

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Yesterday, from 4:00 till 7:00 pm, an open day in the Army Water Training Center in Ohrid was organized, where citizens, especially the youngest, had the opportunity to get acquainted with some of the army helicopters, and with the specialized mountain rescue equipment. The open day followed after the three-day training activities of the Air Force WING, in cooperation with the special army units and the members of the Ohrid Red Cross Mountain Rescue Service. The event was attended by a large number of passers-by, as well as children from Ohrid running – children’s athletics with their parents. The implementation of joint training and exercises, as well as the presentation of modern rescue equipment, increase the citizens’ trust in the system of civil-military cooperation in case of accidents. Besides security, such events arouse humanity, especially at the youngest, and develop the desire for their active involvement in the future as part of the special military or civilian services, which are always ready to help people in need. We hope that some of the many children who have visited us are already dreaming of a successful career as pilots, military specialists, or skilled alpine climbers, mountain rescuers.

With the approval of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Army, the Ohrid Red Cross Mountain Rescue Service started very important cooperation with the Army Air Force WING, which will be deepened in the future, in order to increase the efficiency and economy of rescue operations. The cooperation started with basic training of rescuers, as well as overflights at the most critical points on the mountains Galicica and Jablanica, in order to define important logistics points that would be used in case of mountain accidents. As part of the teams that will be involved in the realization of the upcoming NATO-EADRCC exercise in September 2021, the members of the MRS will continue the training for rescuing by helicopter. In addition to participating in the exercise itself, the goal is to deepen the cooperation with the Army Air Force WING, to act together in a coordinated and effective manner in case of complex accidents on the mountain.

By combining the pilots’ skills and ours, and ICAR recommendations we are conducting, as part of the National Association for Mountain Rescue, we hope to soon establish an effective nationwide rescue system, according to other European countries.

As part of the training activities tomorrow, Thursday, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., in the Army Training Center on Water, an open day will be held to present some of the army aircraft, as well as some of the equipment of the Ohrid Red Cross MRS. We use this opportunity to invite all interested citizens, especially the youngest ones to use this moment and get acquainted with the helicopters and other equipment.

After nine working days, the final planning conference for the NATO exercise – EADRCC (Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center), which will be held in September on the territory of Ohrid and Struga, ended.

The head of the Ohrid Red Cross Mountain Rescue Service and President of the National Union for Mountain Rescue, as a member of the national planning team for the exercise, was actively involved in the process. For the first time, at our initiative, in such exercise, mainly focused on rescue in urban areas, two scenarios for mountain accidents are inserted, thus involving the teams specialized in this type of intervention. In accordance with the general scenario of the exercise, two scenarios for accidents on a complex mountainous terrain are envisaged, namely: a plane crash with multiple casualties and injuries, as well as a tandem paragliding accident.

The purpose of both scenarios is to practice the necessary techniques and coordination between the teams of Ohrid MRS, members of NAMR, army and police services of the country, in cooperation with the Army Air Force WING, to act effectively in case of real accidents of this type. Besides the national mountain rescue teams, teams from other NATO countries can also take part in the exercise. According to the plan for the exercise, the Ohrid Red Cross Mountain Rescue Service took full responsibility for setting the scenery on the ground, providing accommodation for foreign teams in the training center of MRS, as well as organizing the base, which will be located in the Mountain hut Spiridon on Galicica.

This is a great opportunity for the national teams, which are often involved in complex mountain rescue operations, to deepen their mutual coordination, which, in future, will significantly improve their efficiency.

Mr. Vlatko Jovanovski, Head of the Secretariat of DPPI SEE – Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe, visited today the MRS Operational and Training Center.

To Mr. Jovanovski were presented the capacities of MRS and a discussion was made about the current situation in the field of rescue and protection in our country, the need for changes in legislation, and addressing this area in accordance with European practices and regulations. The recent refusal of the Municipality of Ohrid to participate in the financial sustainability of the Service was also discussed and was assessed as a bad signal in the efforts in providing security for the citizens and visitors in the region.

Mr. Jovanovski expressed strong support for the mission we are implementing, encouraged us to continue our efforts to ensure sustainability through the budgets of local and state institutions, and pointed out a number of options for ensuring financial stability and training of volunteers, through available funds, until a final institutional solution.

We sincerely thank Mr. Vlatko Jovanovski for the visit and the praise, which mean a lot to us as a support to the path we have chosen, through overcoming obstacles and opening doors for implementation of modern European practices in our country.