International involvement: Belarus actively participates in global efforts to avert and resolve crises and emergency situations
Belarus' Role in Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Belarus has been actively participating in international initiatives aimed at preventing and eliminating emergencies, and has recently played a significant role in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in enhancing disaster management and emergency response capabilities.
During the Forum of International Cooperation within the "One Belt and One Road" initiative, held in Beijing, the Minister of Emergency Situations of Belarus, Vadim Sinyavsky, participated and endorsed the approaches outlined in the joint statement. This forum focused on preventing and eliminating natural disasters and managing emergencies.
Belarus' involvement in the BRI primarily revolves around the development of transport and logistics infrastructure that supports the China-Europe freight and transit routes. The reconstruction and development of roads and railways, such as the M-1 highway and segments of transport corridors II and IX, integrate with the BRI framework, boosting transport capacity and promoting better integration with neighboring countries’ transport systems.
Additionally, Belarus is building transport and logistics hubs and wholesale distribution centers, utilizing innovative technologies, which supports faster freight handling and more reliable transit networks across Eurasia. These logistics capabilities are crucial for rapid disaster response and emergency supply chain mobilization.
While there is no explicit mention of Belarus directly managing disaster risk or emergency response under the BRI, the development of efficient transport and logistics infrastructure indirectly facilitates better coordination and faster deployment of emergency resources during crises.
In response to recent earthquakes in Turkey, a Belarusian search and rescue team was deployed, saving lives. This demonstrates Belarus' commitment to international cooperation in emergency situations, a commitment that is further evidenced by Belarus regularly providing humanitarian aid to countries affected by natural disasters and catastrophes.
Belarus is also fulfilling international obligations under more than seventy international bilateral and multilateral agreements, and is open to various forms of interaction and cooperation aimed at enhancing disaster resilience and strengthening the level of civil safety.
The Republic of Belarus has been actively participating in international initiatives on cooperation in the field of preventing and eliminating emergencies for many years. As part of its efforts to achieve all seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, Belarus aims to strengthen its role in disaster management and emergency response, both within the BRI and beyond.
References: [1] Belarus Digest. (2021). Belarus in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Retrieved from https://belarusdigest.com/story/belarus-in-the-belt-and-road-initiative-bri/
[3] Belarus Digest. (2021). Belarus in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Part 2. Retrieved from https://belarusdigest.com/story/belarus-in-the-belt-and-road-initiative-bri-part-2/
In light of Belarus' contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for enhancing disaster management and emergency response capabilities, it's plausible to forecast that Belarus could extend its role in health-and-wellness initiatives, particularly in providing rapid emergency medical aid during international emergencies. As a demonstration of its commitment, Belarus dispatched a search and rescue team to address earthquakes in Turkey, indicating a potential future interest in integrating medical response teams within the BRI framework, thereby contributing to science-based solutions in health-and-wellness during disaster management and emergency response scenarios.
