Rescue units from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have jointly practiced disaster relief in Kyrgyzstan’s Batken oblast, according to the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan.  It was the first joint exercise conducted for disaster relief units of three Central Asia’s nations.  

Ms. Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for the Emergencies Committee, says the search-and-rescue units of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have practiced rehearse coordination and interaction in mitigating effects of natural and man-made disasters of a transboundary nature  

They were reportedly also practicing their practical skills on urgent resolution of organizational and legal issues of responding to emergencies.  

The exercise is a partnership for coordination and interaction in jointly practicing disaster relief in the framework of government-to-government agreements on preventing and mitigating disaster effects as well as a protocol on cooperation that was signed by the emergency management agencies of the three countries in Bishkek in April this year, Yusufi added.       

Recall, Tajik and Kyrgyz disaster relief units conducted a joint exercise last year.  The exercise scenario was based on natural disaster striking the border area.