Welcome, Government representatives [state emergency services], REACT members organization [international and national NGOs, the UN, the donor community and the representatives of the embassies] to the REACT Table-Top Simulation Exercise. Express gratitude to the Government of Tajikistan and particularly the Chairman of Committee of Emergency Situations (CoES) for supporting the organization of this Exercise.

Highlight the importance of the Simulation Exercises and general emergency preparedness: Simulation Exercises provide opportunity for emergency managers to take proactive measures in preparing for effective response, contributes to team building and evaluating response skills. Simulation exercises also promote a culture of disaster risk reduction including enhanced preparedness for effective response, as called for by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Mention, REACT SIMEX objectives:   REACT Table-Top Simulation Exercise strives to test level of preparedness of national, international and inter-agency disaster response coordination, by rehearsing coordination arrangements and emergency response procedures by Government and REACT partners;

Briefly  describe REACT SIMEX design: REACT SIMEX started with learning workshop for Government Officials held yesterday [October 14]. Over 30 participants were introduced to the essentials of humanitarian action, humanitarian architecture, emergency response tools and mechanisms.

Today [October 15], SIMEX continued with Table-Top Exercise for full day, bringing together over 60 state and non-state actors in charge of emergency management and response. The Table-Top Exercise simulates initial 10 days of REACT emergency response to medium scale earthquake in the remote area of Tajikistan [Khorog and surrounding districts].

REACT SIMEX will continue tomorrow [October 16] with the Field Exercise at the “Karatog” Training Field of CoES. The latter will simulate field preparedness of first responders.

Thank organizers and contributors: REACT SIMEX is organized jointly by the Committee of Emergency Situations, UNRCO and OCHA, with financial support from: WFP, Aga-Khan, Red Crescent Society and OSCE.

SIMEX was prepared and designed with participation of WFP, UNDP, UNCEF, UNHCR, IOM, WHO, Red Crescent Society led by OCHA.

International expatriate Control Team, including officers from WFP HQ, Russian Emercom representative, UNDP and OCHA staff.

Underline that relevance of the event to International DRR Day [October 13]:  International Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Day takes place annually on 13 October. This year, DRR Day falls on a Sunday. To take best advantage of attention to DRR created by International DRR Day, Tajikistan has, in the past, held DRR related events during the week in which 13 October occurs.

Emphasize that we are trying to reduce the impact of the disasters on the population of Tajikistan.

Reassure commitment by UNRC to continue supporting the REACT advocate for and guide on required emergency response preparedness strategies as agreed by REACT.