URCS, State Emergency Service discuss further cooperation

The leadership of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine discussed further cooperation in providing assistance to war victims and cleaning up the aftermath of emergency situations.

"A working meeting between the leadership of the Ukrainian Red Cross and the leadership of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine was held. During the meeting, a number of important issues were discussed, particularly improvement of the mechanism for engaging the potential of the Ukrainian Red Cross in rescue of the population affected by regular shelling of the territory of Ukraine, strengthening cooperation in terms of readiness to deal with the aftermath of other emergencies," the URCS said on Facebook on Friday.

The parties also identified areas for further cooperation on the implementation of state policy in the field of civil protection.

In addition, the URCS familiarized representatives of the State Emergency Service with the material and technical potential for joint work. In particular, rescue and specialized equipment was presented: boats, Bohun swamp vehicles and off-road vehicles, mobile washing and bathing units, ambulance vehicles, trucks, and mobile heating centers.

"We showed the operation of mobile heating points. Ten of them today have already left for the regions, another eleven are being prepared and will be sent in the near future," Deputy Director General of the National Committee of the URCS Illia Kletskovsky said.

According to Acting Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Major General Volodymyr Demchuk, "today it is very important to communicate and interact correctly in order to effectively use the resource." He emphasized that the synergy between the URCS and the State Emergency Service is aimed at helping Ukrainian citizens during Russian shelling, eliminating the consequences of fires and other crises.

The URCS recalled that the Ukrainian Red Cross is a reliable partner of the State Emergency Service in cleaning up the aftermath of emergency situations. Volunteers of the URCS disaster response teams always promptly arrive at the scene and provide first pre-medical and psychological assistance to the victims, carry out their evacuation and transportation, participate in rescue and search operations, deploy mobile heating centers for rest, heating and temporary stay, provide necessary things, lunches, water for rescuers and victims.