Kazakhstan hosts NATO disaster response exercise
“On 6 September 2009, a severe earthquake hits the Almaty province in Kazakhstan. Confronted with more than 200 000 people affected, critical infrastructure damage and the threat of chemical contamination, the Government of Kazakhstan requests help from the international community.”
These events are part of “ZHETYSU 2009”, a consequence management field exercise organized by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) in cooperation with Kazakhstan from 5 to 10 September.
Around 1 000 participants from NATO and Partner countries as well as representatives and observers from other international organizations are taking part in the event, which is held annually to practice disaster response mechanisms and enhance co-operation in emergency situations.
“ZHETYSU” is the ninth field exercise conducted by the EADRCC since 2000 and the first to be hosted by Kazakhstan as its contribution to the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme for 2009.