“TRANS-CARPATHIA 2000” INTERNATIONAL EXERCISE

Abstract

The “Trans-Carpathia 2000” exercise was the first NATO/PfP exercise in which the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Co-ordination Centre (EADRCC) practised planned procedures and evaluated Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Unit (EADRU) capabilities. The exercise was hosted by the Ukraine Ministry of Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection against the Consequences of the Chernobyl Catastrophe (MOE). The “Trans-Carpathia 2000” exercise was conducted in two phases, as a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and as a Field Exercise (FieldEx). The first phase (CPX) was aimed at improving planned procedures in the case of a request for international assistance from a stricken country, and took place from 20 to 22 September 2000. The CPX was followed by a FieldEx in the Trans-Carpathian region of the Ukraine near the city of Uzhgorod from 26 to 28 September 2000. It included a simulated flood response exercise by disaster response elements from EAPC countries operating as EADRU assisting Ukrainian units. Activities were performed at several “working stations” and included search and rescue, provision of medical care, life support, water purification, cleaning of an oil spill in a river, rescue in a chemically contaminated area (in which the Slovene unit participated), and field coordination centre. Both phases of the exercise were monitored by an independent Assessors Team, which provided a valuable report on its findings. Slovenia participated actively in both phases of the exercise.