Today, RoA Ministry for Emergency Situations Mher Shahgeldyan, announced plans to set up a program leading to the creation of a not for profit "Regional Diasaster Health Center" network. The minister stated that, "One of the most pressing problems to safeguard the populace from consequences resulting from emergency situations and warfare is a medical diasaster system. Studies of the Spitak earthquake show that the absence of such a network leads to a large number of preventable deaths." The functions of such a sytem will be both informational and preventative in nature, the minister noted, adding that the system could have regional significance as well given that such a system is lacking in other countries in the region. Assistance for the project will come from the Swiss development Agency and a number of diaspora Armenian organizations.