Emergency services could become a united agency

Georgia’s first response emergency units could be united to create an Emergency Management Agency, led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The country’s fire, ambulance, security and other emergency services could be combined to make it easier for Georgian citizens to access first response units and develop the quality of the services.

The Government announced a reform that would create the Emergency Situation Reaction Unified System, aimed to establish a civil security system that will be implemented this year and next.

This proposed change would become a reality if a Civil Security Bill, prepared by the Interior Ministry, was passed in Parliament.

The Bill would see all levels of emergency units, including units in Georgia’s regional areas, to become part of the new united system. As a result, local emergency systems would close in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and other self-governing areas of Georgia.

For this reason, authorities will establish a liquidation committee that will oversee the task of all properties and assets to be liquidated to the new service Emergency Management Agency.

"Research shows that in Georgia, the quality of emergency services, security and fire systems are poor and a civil defence system does not exist,” the Ministry’s press centre announced.

"The current law does not work and this means the emergency system is poor. Maintaining the existing system in the future would be impossible, [and we need to] modernize and develop an efficient and responsive civil security service,” the press centre said.

An attachment to the Bill stated current conditions within Georgia’s emergency service operations were poor, including low salaries and poor social security. The attachment stated opportunities for professional training was inadequate as there were few qualified staff to lead the sessions, and current staff were not qualified or properly trained.