Message N=BA. : OPS(EADRCC)(2007)0028
Dtg : 26 JUL 2007, 15:00 UTC
From: Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre
To: Points of Contact for International Disaster Response in NATO and Partner Countries
Precedence: Priority
Originator : Duty Officer Tel: +32-2-707.2670
Approved by : Head EADRCC Tel: +32-2-707.2673
References : Request for Assistance, OPS(EADRCC)(2007)0022
This report consists of : -3- pages
1. The Authorities of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) have provided the following situation updates:
1.1. Despite of mobilised national and international efforts, the overall situation in the country remains critical. There are twenty-two active fires burning and new ones breaking out. The largest fires are located in Gevgelija near Davidovo, with 600 Ha of low wood affected and in the same area near Udovo and Miravci 600 Ha of forest burning with a tendency to spread. A new fire broke out in Berovo, Smojmirovo village affecting 250 Ha of pine woods. Fires are devastating 120 Ha of forest in the National Park Jansen.
1.2. All national resources are deployed to cope with the lasting disastrous fire situation including governmental capabilities (the Army in support of the Ministry of the Interior), local governance, public forest enterprises and non governmental organisations:3 airplanes, 2 Army helicopters as well as an undetermined number of fire fighters, military and local personnel have been employed.
1.3. Weather conditions will stay dry and hot with high temperatures up to 40 centigrade for the next days.
2. The further needs for international assistance:
2.1. There is still an urgent need for additional aerial firefighting capacities as up to the present time the situation remains to be critical.
3. Point of Entry: Alexander the Great airport near Skopje in Petrovec.
4. Assistance offered or provided by EAPC nations:
4.1 The Croatia sent one fire fighting aircraft (CL-415 Canadair) with 2 crews and 4 technicians (10 people). The aircraft will be staying in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 until the fire threat will be removed or Croatia itself will need it for fighting fires on its own territory. Croatia provides assistance on a bilateral basis.
4.2 Slovenia has also responded to the request of assistance on a bilateral basis and provides one firefighting helicopter (He 412-B) manned with 5 people (2 helicopter operators, 2 firefighters and 1 liaison officer).
4.3 On 25 July, one firefighting airplane and one firefighting helicopter from the Republic of Turkey joined the firefighting operation in the stricken area.
4.4 Today, in the morning, Austria offered 2 national experts from the Austrian fire brigades. The offer was accepted by the Authorities of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1 . The Austrian experts are scheduled to arrive at Skopje airport today, at 15:30, and to stay in the country for six days.
4.5 Eight EAPC countries have informed the EADRCC that, regrettably, they do not possess the requested capabilities or that the capabilities are not available at this moment.
5. The Operational Point of Contact in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) can be reached in the following ways:
| Name: | Urim Vejseli, Olgica Gjoreska, Maja Misevska |
| Organisation: | Crisis Management Centre |
| Telephone: | +389 2 32 49 200, +389 2 32 49 160 |
| Mobile phone: | +389 75 343 707 |
| Fax 1: | +389 2 31 36 266 |
| Fax 2: | +389 2 32 49 213 |
| E-mail: | Snezana.sokolova@cuk.gov.mk |
| Urim.vejseli@cuk.gov.mk | |
| Olgica.gjoreska@cuk.gov.mk | |
| Operating hours: | 24/7 |
6. Response co-ordination.
6.1 With a view to providing a coordinated response to the stricken nation's requirements, nations in a position to meet these demands, in full or in part, are invited to reply to the Operational Point of Contact of the Stricken Nation, with an information copy to EADRCC, by any of the communication means listed above and below.
6.2 The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) in Geneva and the European Union MIC have been informed by the same communication.
6.3 The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre can be reached in the following ways:
Telephone: +32-2-707.2670
Fax : +32-2-707.2677
Mobile Phone: +32-475-829.071
e-mail: Eadrcc@hq.nato.int
Internet: http://www.nato.int/eadrcc/home.htm
Note:
(1) Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.