Joint Preparedness and International Cooperation for a More Effective Response to Earthquakes

A transnational workshop was held at the National Training Centre of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue as part of the Integrated Disaster Management Network in the Danube Region project. The workshop focused on improving disaster preparedness and strengthening cooperation among institutions, operational services and international partners. It was emphasized that an effective disaster response requires clearly defined responsibilities, reliable information exchange and strong cooperation both within the country and with international partners. This process forms the basis for preparing a discussion-based exercise (DBX), during which participants will use a hypothetical scenario to consider decisions, available capacities, information sharing and the provision of assistance to affected populations. The project aims to improve disaster prevention, preparedness and response through the development of joint operational models, the exchange of knowledge and information, training and exercises, and greater involvement of local communities, young people and volunteers. An earthquake in Montenegro is one of the risk scenarios envisaged by the project, enabling international cooperation to address the specific needs of the national protection and rescue system. The Directorate for Protection and Rescue will continue using the knowledge and experience gained through the InDiMaND project to improve preparedness and operational response, with the aim of more effectively protecting citizens and reducing the consequences of disasters.