Abu Dhabi. (21.10.2015)
The humanitarian community is celebrating INSARAG's 25th anniversary this year. INSARAG units from 70 different countries met in Abu Dhabi over the past few days as part of a "Global Meeting". A delegation from the German aid organisation I.S.A.R. Germany was also present.
The International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) was founded to raise awareness of earthquake rescue, promote the exchange of experience and draw up rules for international earthquake operations. The aim is to better coordinate disaster operations and organise them more efficiently.
I.S.A.R. Germany is now an integral part of INSARAG and a recognised partner in international disaster relief. "I.S.A.R. Germany is known worldwide as a highly professional aid organisation," explained Albrecht Beck, who was one of the UNDAC team leaders during the earthquake in Nepal, at the meeting in Abu Dhabi. "We are very grateful for the help and cooperation we received from I.S.A.R. in Nepal, for example. Without the experienced rescue experts, it would often be difficult to provide life-saving assistance. That's why we want to further expand and institutionalise our cooperation with I.S.A.R.," says UNDAC Team Leader Beck. UNDAC teams are sent by the United Nations to disaster regions to assess the situation and coordinate international aid.
Around 40 teams worldwide are now certified by INSARAG for international operations following earthquake disasters. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked them for their work. They have proven that they fulfil the requirements for international disaster operations and comply with the rules. Back in 2007, I.S.A.R. Germany was the first organisation worldwide to be certified as a "Medium Team".
In the meantime, INSARAG is also increasingly focussing on the so-called "beyond the rubble phase". This involves units being able to take on other tasks in addition to searching for and rescuing buried victims in order to be able to respond to the increasingly complex requirements during a disaster operation. I.S.A.R. Germany recognised this need back in 2005 and expanded the medical component accordingly. For example, a medical component is deployed at the same time as the Search and Rescue Team. In addition, many members of the SAR team can also take on medical tasks when the search and rescue phase is declared over. This multifunctional capability is a worldwide speciality of I.S.A.R. Germany.
Contact:
Press spokesman Stefan Heine, Phone: +49 203 98 63 00 -46
