Joint disaster response exercise held by Georgia, Azerbaijan in Kakheti region PHOTO

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, in collaboration with Azerbaijani counterparts, conducted large-scale emergency response drills in the Kakheti region as part of a bilateral initiative aimed at strengthening cross-border coordination.

The exercises were carried out under the joint project titled “SAILOR - Cross Border Risk Assessment and Action Plan in Georgia-Azerbaijan,” Caliber.Az reports citing Georgian media.

The simulation involved a forest fire outbreak in the Vashlovani Nature Reserve, a protected area located near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border. According to the scenario, high temperatures and strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly toward Azerbaijani territory, prompting a coordinated emergency response from both nations.

The primary objective of the drill was to test and enhance the ability of Georgian and Azerbaijani emergency services to respond effectively and jointly to cross-border natural disasters. The exercise involved coordination between firefighting units, rescue teams, and border protection forces.

Officials noted that the simulation served as a critical platform for evaluating communication systems, logistics, and rapid deployment strategies in a real-time emergency setting. The joint training also underscored the importance of regional cooperation in managing environmental and disaster risks that transcend national borders.

Funded by EU Civil Protection Mechanism, SAILOR (Cross Border Risk Assessment and Action Plan in Georgia-Azerbaijan) aims to conduct a forest fire risk assessment in the cross-border area between Georgia and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus with the participation of national civil defence authorities from both countries.

SAILOR thus also contributes to enriching what has been achieved under the European program Prevention, Preparedness and Response to natural and man-made disasters in Eastern Partnership countries – phase 3 (PPRD East 3), which started in 2020.

By Vafa Guliyeva