"GOBI WOLF" EXERCISES BEGIN

Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/ The latest phase of the bilateral disaster management exercises called "Gobi Wolf" have begun. Its opening ceremony has run at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Headquarters, the UB-based USA Embassy' website reported Tuesday.
The ceremony was chaired by NEMA High Commissioner Amgalanbayar; the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Jonathan Addleton; the NEMA Deputy Commissioner Namsrai; and the Director of Pacific Command's Center for Excellence, Lieutenant General (Ret.) John F.Goodman.
This year's exercises will culminate in a simulated complex mining disaster that involves a mine site explosion, trapped miners, a small chemical spill at the mine entrance, civil discontent at the mine site, and a major hazardous material spill at a secondary site. Additionally, the complex nature of this year's exercises will require planning for the receipt of international technical teams and rescue equipment at the military airport in Nalaikh.
The Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE), a direct reporting unit to the U.S. military's Pacific Command (USPACOM) in Hawaii, will conduct the exercise along with numerous agencies of the Government of Mongolia, most notably Mongolia's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Exercise partners include the U.S. Army War College, the Asia Foundation, the United States Army War College, and 28 agencies from across the Government of Mongolia.
The exercises will last until April 9.
B.Khuder
12.27