Ferghana 2003 Final Press Release 30 April 2003 With the completion of Ferghana 2003, initial conclusions can be drawn and lessons learnt from this multinational exercise involving over 19 countries, either as participants or observers. There were a number of difficulties at the beginning of Ferghana 2003 as in any exercise - but eventually teams operated well together and objectives were achieved. On the organizational side, one of the major improvements was the enhanced interaction between the local authorities and the UN coordination center for the international teams, the OSOCC. On the sites also, coordination and cooperation between the different national teams as well as between the search and rescue and the medical teams improved. By the end of the second day, teams were not only working side by side but really together, as a big unit assessed one of the organizers. A major innovation in Ferghana 2003 was to test how the participants, led by the local authorities, could progressively move from a purely relief operation - with fire fighting, search and rescue, first aid and medical treatment - to one involving progressive rehabilitation of the affected areas, by reestablishing proper fresh water connections for instance. These delicate shifting, as relief operations continued, also proved very successful. On the technical side, the exercise demonstrated the importance of proper interpretation. Teams can only work together if they understand each other, be it through a common language or - in the case of multinational rescue - with the presence of interpreters. This was a significant aspect highlighted by Ferghana 2003. A final key issue was the role of the media. The organizers of Ferghana 2003 set up a press center to ensure the visibility of the exercise so the journalists could be timely and regularly informed . But in a real life disaster, the involvement of the media will be of utmost importance to establish a link between the authorities and the affected population and ensuring a regular flow of information for the victims. This aspect was successfully handled. As the exercise draws to a close, the objectives of Ferghana 2003 were successfully achieved and the cooperation procedures have significantly improved.