The NATO disaster management field exercise "Bosnia and Herzegovina 2017" is held in Tuzla Sept. 25, 2017. (Xinhua/Haris Memija)
SARAJEVO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- An international multi-day civilian NATO exercise aimed to manage the consequences of natural disasters on Monday in Tuzla, a city some 120 km northeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) capital Sarajevo.
The five-day-long exercise, dubbed "Bosnia and Herzegovina 2017," involves demonstration exercises and simulations of floods, strong earthquakes, building collapses and various traffic accidents on land and in water. The first day showed the simulated situation of the chemical attack.
The exercises will be carried out at the several locations in Tuzla and its surroundings. Some 1,300 rescuers and other members of various services from 34 countries are participating in the drill.
Addressing the ceremony, BiH Security Minister Dragan Mektic said this exercise brings opportunities for BiH's institutions to demonstrate its level of readiness, and to get acquainted with the practice of international teams as well.
For his part, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Sorin Ducaru emphasized that BiH strengthens regional and international disaster relief cooperation and contributes to the security of people in the Euro-Atlantic area.
This type of exercise is organized for the first time in BiH. Severe floods hit BiH in 2014, affecting million of residents..
The exercise is jointly organized by the BiH Ministry of Security and the NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination and will take place until Sept. 29.
