Latvian State Fire and Rescue Service Humanitarian Aid and Activities

1. CBSS Latvian activities StateFire and Rescue Service of Latvia

2. Humanitarian aid State Fire and Rescue Service and State supply agency provided humanitarian aid for Ukraine on November 2014 and January 2015. State Fire and Rescue Service organized the transportation of humanitarian aid. Latvia sent 18 power generators and 4000 blankets. State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia

3. Humanitarian aid The first shipment of humanitarian aid from Latvia – medical supplies and equipment – was delivered to Kyiv on February 2014. The assistance for Ukraine is provided through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The cost of humanitarian aid and transportation is calculated worth 103 000 euro.

4. PwD seminar Within Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU State Fire and Rescue Service launched Europe Civil Protection Financial Instrument project “EU workshop: the needs of persons with disabilities throughout the disaster management cycle” in 1 November, 2014. Project main activity – seminar „The needs of persons with disabilities throughout the disaster management cycle”. Held on 12 – 13 of January 2015 in National Library of Latvia. State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia

5. PwD seminar OBJECTIVE – identifying the gaps between the needs of persons with disabilities and provision under the disaster management cycle, collecting best practices in this area, and examining this issue from the perspective of new technologies and innovative solutions. The outcome of the workshop will be included in the final report to be made available to all Member States, and draft Council Conclusions on the Needs of Persons with Disabilities throughout the Disaster Management Cycle will be presented and submitted for discussion in the Civil Protection Working Party (PROCIV).

6. LLT • On 1st of December 2013 within Civil protection financial instrument State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia in collaboration with partners from Fire and Rescue Department under Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania started the project „Establishment of JointLatvian – Lithuanian TAST” (Project acronym: LLT, Agreement number: ECHO/SUB/2013/661040). • The main aim is to improve the effectiveness of systems for preventing and protecting against natural or man-made disasters on national and international level. Latvian-Lithuanian TAST will provide technical assistance and support to other Civil protection modules including “BaltFloodCombat” High Capacity Pumping module.

7. Year 2014 following project activities have been done: Project Kick-off meeting was held on April; Personnel of LL TAST selected and equipment list developed; 1st and 2nd Project coordination meetings was held on July and September; Web page http://www.lltast.eu/ and teams logo set up; 1st and 2nd personnel training course conducted on October and December; Teams joint uniforms developed. It is planned that LL TAST will be ready to be deployed on June 2015. LLT

8. LLT

9. LLT During year 2015 we will continue with following activities: • March – developed SOP’s and participation in «BELmodex»; • April – internal practical training; • May – 3rd personnel training course conducted ; • June – registration to CECIS; • August – exchange of experience trip; • September – LL TAST practical exercise.

10. JATE • During year 2014 SFRS and ERB together have been implementing Estonia – Latvia Programme project “Building Cross-border Capacity to Perform Joint Activities in Tough Environment ” (JATE). • Year 2014 following project activities have been done: • Project Opening conference and foundation stone laying ceremony of Valka fire station was held on March • Theoretical training course for commanders was held on May in Valga • Practical Exchange of experience exercise was held on September in Valka • Theoretical training course for rescuers was held on December in Valga It is planned that new Valka fire station will be built till March 2015.

11. JATE 2014

12. JATE • Year 2015 following project activities will been done: • March – Valka Fire station construction works completed; • April – practical exercise in Valka as well as theoretical exercise course for rescuers in Valga; • May – Joint practical exercise in Valka and Valga regions; • June – Project Closing conference and Valka fire station opening ceremony of Valka.

13. From Gaps to Caps • State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia are honored to take part in the new project “Risk Management Capability Based on Gaps Identification in the BSR ” • Neringa will tell all the details.

14. Experts mission 1. State Fire and Rescue Service Operative management officer Andris Krots and EU expert Staņislavs Ļisovenko participated in the EU civil protection expert mission team in Ukraine in 2014. A team of experts conducted the tasks that were related to the assessment of aid to refugees in the territory of Ukraine. State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia

15. Experts mission 2. State Fire and Rescue Service firefighters participated in the liquidation of the consequences of flooding in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014.The mission was carried out using a high-performance pumping module BaltFloodCombat together with partners from Lithuaniaand Estonia. BaltFloodCombat unit has participated also two missions - 2010 in Poland in May and August 2010 in Moldova.

16. Thank you for your attention! State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia