| Արտակարգ իրավիճակների նախարարություն | |
_logo.png){kind=logo} Emblem of the Ministry of Emergency of Armenia | |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 21 April 2008 (2008-04-21) |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Armenia |
| Headquarters | 109 Anastas Mikoyan Street,Davtashen District,Yerevan |
| Minister responsible |
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| Website | www |
TheMinistry of Emergency Situations of Armenia (MES) (Armenian:Հայաստանի արտակարգ իրավիճակների նախարարություն) is a government agency overseeing the civil emergency services inArmenia. The ministry was formed bypresidential decree on 21 April 2008.
The ministry was preceded by the Headquarters of the Civil Defense, which has operated in theArmenian SSR since 1961. The1988 Armenian earthquake (also commonly known as the Spitak Earthquake) revealed many issues related to the civil defense system inSoviet Armenia and became the main force behind the restructuring of the Emergency Management Department of theGovernment of Armenia. Following theDeclaration of State Sovereignty of Armenia by theSupreme Council of Armenia, the Emergency Department was established with Stepan Badalyan its first head. On September 4, 1997, a rescue rapid reaction unit is created, with its main tasks being to perform rescue operations in the disaster zone, as well as rendering professional assistance to the population in case of emergency incidents in the shortest possible time. In 1994,Armenia became a full member of theInternational Civil Defence Organization. In December 2005, the Emergency Management Department was renamed to theRescue Service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration of the Republic of Armenia.
Newly elected Armenian PresidentSerzh Sargsyan restructured the service on 21 April 2008 as the Ministry of Emergency Situations, with Mher Shahgeldyan being the first Minister of Emergency Situations. The ministry was merged with the Ministry of Territorial Administration in December 2014 only to become an independent agency two years later.[2]
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia coordinates its services with the law of theRepublic of Armenia in the sphere of citizenship and protection of citizens in the context of emergency situations. It serves to evacuateArmenian citizens during natural disasters and accidents.
The ministry is composed of 5 main agencies:
TheRescue Service is an auxiliary to theArmed Forces of Armenia.[3] The ministry utilizesStepanavan Airport inLori Province to support the rescue services by fighting wildfires. Fire-fighting aircraft based there includesBeriev Be-200 aircraft, which is in the process of being purchased by theRussian government.[4]
TheNational Seismic Protection Service is engaged in seismic risk assessment as well as earthquake impact assessment. It has offices inGyumri,Yerevan,Kapan, andStepanakert.[5] The service operates seismic stations at theMetsamor Nuclear Power Plant, the onlynuclear power plant in theSouth Caucasus.[6]
TheService of theHydrometeorology and Active Influence on Atmospheric Phenomena (SNCO) orArmgosgidromet is the nationalmeteorological service of Armenia, responsible for gatheringhydrometeorological information.
TheState Reserves Agency of the Ministry of Emergency Situations is the legal successor ofArmenian SSR branch of the SovietMaterial Reserves State Committee (now the Federal Agency for State Reserves). It was founded in 1992 when by government decision the Armenian branch was reformed into State Reserves Administration. In 2002, it began operating under theMinistry of Finance. It moved in 2005 under the structure of theMinistry of Territorial Administration before becoming part of MES in 2008.[7]
TheNational Center of Technical Security is a non-commercial organization founded on 29 December 2005.[8]
The ministry provides 9 awards for exceptional employees of the ministry.[9]
Like theArmenian Army and thePolice of Armenia, the rescue service of the ministry has a 48-member, ceremonial brass band (Poghatin Nvagaxumb) which works during public ceremonies involving the ministry. It is led by Colonel Manvel Utujyan, who previously served in the band of theInternal Troops.[10] The brass band was founded in 2010 by Minister Armen Yeritsyan.[11][12][13]
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