LocationsWomen from Kruševac and the surrounding area improve emergency response skills
March 6, 2026
Kruševac, 5 March 2026 – With the support of the European Union (EU) and in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, the Sector for Emergency Management – Ministry of Interior (SEM MoI), the City of Kruševac, and the Red Cross of Serbia, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia organised an event dedicated to strengthening women’s skills for responding to emergency situations. The event was held as part of the traditional blood donation campaign of the Red Cross ahead of International Women’s Day, which brought together more than 600 blood donors.
Representatives of the City of Kruševac, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Interior, UNDP, and the Red Cross of Serbia addressed the participants, emphasising the importance of emergency preparedness and the role of women in safeguarding the safety of local communities.
“Women are among the most vulnerable groups in emergency situations, but they are also a key support for families and local communities. This workshop will enable them to acquire practical knowledge and skills in first aid and appropriate responses to emergency events. These are not just skills – they are capacities that can make the difference between fear and security, helplessness and action, life and loss. The city will always support such initiatives, because investing in citizens’ education and safety means investing in a safer and more humane future for all,” said Snežana Radojković, Deputy Mayor of Kruševac.
Maja Vučković-Krčmar, Project Manager at the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, noted that this is one of the activities supported by the EU to improve the resilience of Serbia’s healthcare system to crises.
“We are modernising public health laboratories, strengthening the disaster risk management system, and investing in digital health infrastructure. However, it is equally important to work with citizens, raise awareness, and transfer knowledge that can save lives. To date, more than 220,000 people across Serbia – from students to senior citizens, from volunteers to healthcare workers – have been reached through these activities. This is EU partnership in practice – not only through investments and infrastructure, but through people and communities becoming more resilient together”, Vučković-Krčmar stated.
More than fifty women from Kruševac and the surrounding areas participated in workshops on responding to and providing first aid during emergencies such as fires, earthquakes, and floods. They also enhanced their understanding of the importance of voluntary blood donation and maintaining blood reserves in crisis situations. Experts from the City of Kruševac’s Department for Defence and Emergency Affairs, Kruševac Health Centre, the Red Cross of Kruševac, and the Blood Transfusion Institute of Niš delivered the workshops.
“The times we live in confront us with challenges and threats that are constantly growing and changing. A responsible society must ensure the safety and health of its citizens, and this task requires the coordinated engagement of all of us. Today, we demonstrate how local governments, aware of their role, can respond when needed and thereby firmly take their place in the system, all for the benefit of their citizens,” said Bojan Tomić, Assistant Head of the Sector for Emergency Management – Ministry of Interior.
“United Nations reports show that women and children are most affected by crises, but also that their experiences, knowledge, and empathy are invaluable in building more resilient communities. Statistics show that women are often the first to provide help in emergencies – whether during fires, floods, or earthquakes. This is why it is essential that they possess the knowledge, confidence, and skills that can save lives,” said Violeta Sretenović, representative of UNDP in Serbia.
Throughout the day, blood donors and visitors participated in a public health, blood donation, and emergency response knowledge quiz at a designated stand, as well as in a practical exercise on packing an emergency kit, supported by volunteers.
“All of this carries special significance in the year in which we mark a major anniversary—150 years since the founding of the Red Cross of Serbia. A century and a half under the slogan ‘Humanity that lasts’ obliges us not only to preserve tradition, but also to be drivers of change. This means monitoring the needs of modern society, investing in knowledge, prevention, and resilience, and empowering those who are the pillars of families and communities – women”, said Prof. Dr Dragan Radovanović, President of the Red Cross of Serbia.
On this occasion, representatives of the EU and UNDP donated a generator to the City of Kruševac’s Department for Defence and Emergency Affairs, which will improve efficiency and operational capacity during power outages. The Red Cross of Kruševac received a laptop and a speaker with a microphone, which will facilitate the work of volunteers in the field, especially in situations where fast communication is crucial.
This event was organised within the project “EU for the Healthcare in Serbia”, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia and the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia.
