Bulgaria

• Capital: Sofia
• Population: 7.5 million
• Language: Bulgarian

• Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) undertakes the activities of civil protection in the event of disasters, based on a policy for prevention, control and overcoming of the consequences of disasters and accidents;
• National Civil Protection Service General Directorate is a structure under MES. It conducts life-saving and urgent emergency-reconstruction activities in case of disasters, as well as protection both in peace and war;
• Legal Regulations - based on the Constitution and Acts on: Disaster Protection; Crisis Management; Local Self-Government and Local Administration; Water; Defence and Armed Forces; Ministry of Internal Affairs; Administration, etc.;
• A national situation center is part of MES activates local, municipal or regional crisis staff to coordinate and manage relief operations and provide information to other agencies.
• The Unified Rescue System sets the organization, coordination and management of the units, services and structures in disaster preparedness and when necessary in simultaneous rescue and emergency recovery;
• Prevention - National Program for Protection at Disasters sets the aims, priorities and tasks of prevention activities;
• National System of the Single European Phone Number for Emergency Calls – phone number 112 is operational and by the end of 2009 will cover the whole country;
• Rescue Units - MES structure of 23 units carries emergency rescue in disasters;

Bulgarian Red Cross

• BRC is an autonomous organisation assists the state in the humanitarian sphere, in the preparation for actions in wartime, military conflicts and disasters, and for strengthening the health of the population
• Bulgarian Red Cross Law - in force since 1995
• BRC is included in disaster related Laws and in the National plan for protection of the population in disasters
• BRC take part in the activities of the Interdepartmental Commission for rehabilitation and assistance at the Council of Ministers
• Тhe governors and the mayors and their local civil protection staff work in close co-operation with the Regional Red Cross branches
• BRC representatives on regional level are members of regional and municipal Security Councils for protecting the population in crisis situations as well as in the Crisis Staffs
• BRC is a partner which assists the state for carrying out extensive first aid training for pupils at schools, public drivers, rescue and specialize team members, general population and others
• BRC is part of the National Emergency 112 system and a part of the automatic national warning system
• The agreements for cooperation are signed between the BRC and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, structures of the Ministry of Interior, etc.

Useful Links

Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Emergency Situations

Bulgarian Red Cross

www.redcross.bg