The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia (MES) (Armenian: Հայաստանի արտակարգ իրավիճակների նախարարություն) is a government agency overseeing the civil emergency services in Armenia. The ministry was formed by presidential decree on 21 April 2008.
The ministry was preceded by the Headquarters of the Civil Defense, which has operated in the Armenian SSR since 1961. The 1988 Armenian earthquake (also commonly known as the Spitak Earthquake) revealed many issues related to the civil defense system in Soviet Armenia and became the main force behind the restructuring of the Emergency Management Department of the Government of Armenia. Following the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Armenia by the Supreme Council of Armenia, the Emergency Department was established with Stepan Badalyan its first head. On September 4, 1997, a rescue rapid reaction unit is created, with its main tasks being to perform rescue operations in the disaster zone, as well as rendering professional assistance to the population in case of emergency incidents in the shortest possible time. In 1994, Armenia became a full member of the International Civil Defence Organization. In December 2005, the Emergency Management Department was renamed to the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration of the Republic of Armenia.
Newly elected Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan restructured the service on 21 April 2008 as the Ministry of Emergency Situations, with Mher Shahgeldyan being the first Minister of Emergency Situations. The ministry was merged with the Ministry of Territorial Administration in December 2014 only to become an independent agency two years later.[2]
The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia coordinates its services with the law of the Republic of Armenia in the sphere of citizenship and protection of citizens in the context of emergency situations. It serves to evacuate Armenian citizens during natural disasters and accidents.
The Service of the Hydrometeorology and Active Influence on Atmospheric Phenomena (SNCO)orArmgosgidromet is the national meteorological service of Armenia, responsible for gathering hydrometeorological information.
Like the Armenian Army and the Police of Armenia, the rescue service of the ministry has a 48-member, ceremonial brass band (Poghatin Nvagaxumb) which works during public ceremonies involving the ministry. It is led by Colonel Manvel Utujyan, who previously served in the band of the Internal Troops.[10] The brass band was founded in 2010 by Minister Armen Yeritsyan.[11][12][13]
