RESPONSEA common challenge for the Ukrainian and Polish borderlands, and the main objective of the project is to support activities aimed at climate change adaptation and prevention of risks associated with natural disasters in the supported region. The project partners have identified three key issues: the increasing risks associated with climate change, insufficient equipment and skills of rescue and fire-fighting units, as well as insufficient exchange of experience and cooperation between rescue units in the cross-border area for effective crisis management.
To ensure a comprehensive approach to these problems, the partners are planning to implement both infrastructure activities and soft measures. The lead partner will purchase a central alarm system for siren control, along with the necessary sirens. The second partner from Siedlce (PL) will acquire vehicles for travelling on land and water, including heavy and light firefighting ones, a boat and a scooter, whereas partner from Zbuczyn will buy rescue and fire truck with a set of breathing apparatus with cylinders. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian partners from Volyn region will buy a total of 4 specialized vehicles including a water tanker.
The soft measures include the organisation of joint training event and exercises for firefighting and rescue services, one in each country, as well as a promotional campaign. The joint activities will be summarised in a video, which will be available on the partners’ websites. Promotional activities will also include the organisation of two conferences – opening and closing the project.
The planned activities within the project will increase the effectiveness of cross-border rescue and firefighting services in Poland and Ukraine in mitigating risks associated with natural disasters. As a result, the residents of the project area will be better protected from the consequences of hazardous incidents. This will help ensure a greater sense of safety in these difficult times.
Health - 2.1 
