Qatar Named Regional Chair of Search and Rescue Teams in 2023

Doha, March 06 (QNA) - The International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), affiliated with the United Nations, has named Qatar the Regional Chair of search and rescue teams from Africa, Europe and the Middle East during the year 2023, in appreciation of the important role of Qatar International Search and Rescue Group in the rapid response to a number of disasters around the world. Commander of Qatar International Search and Rescue Group Lt. Col. Mubarak Sherida Al Kaabi said that the selection of the State of Qatar as Regional Chair by the INSARAG comes in recognition and appreciation of the important efforts exerted by Qatar International Search and Rescue Group over years of dealing with crises in several world countries across the five continents. In this context, he noted the nomination of four members of the Qatari group last year in the UN committees for international search and rescue teams, which confirms the Group's keenness to occupy an important position among all the teams in the world. This came during a press conference held today by the Commander of Qatar International Search and Rescue Group alongside INSARAG Secretariat in OCHA Geneva Winston Chang, on the eve of the INSARAG Team Leaders (TLs) Meeting which will be held in Doha Monday. Lt. Col. Al Kaabi said that more than 65 participants from 33 countries will participate in the meeting, in-person or remotely, representing working groups, the INSARAG Secretariat, search and rescue leaders, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Health Organization and others. He noted that the meeting aims to enhance effective communication between the concerned authorities, identify mechanisms for developing unified global standards for basic capabilities related to the international response to international search and rescue teams, as well as developing the field of disaster response preparedness and supporting capacity-building in disaster-prone countries. He stressed the State of Qatar's readiness to host the meeting after it was postponed several times due to the COVID-19 precautionary measures. He noted that Qatar International Search and Rescue Group has obtained the "Heavy" INSARAG classification since 2015, which is the highest level of the international classification, thus earning it great experience and high capabilities that qualify it to occupy a global and regional position. On the other hand, Lt. Col. Al Kaabi noted that a force from the Omani National Search and Rescue Team arrived in Doha today to participate in a joint exercise with the Qatari group, adding that the exercise is part of the training and operational plans implemented by the Group with the international search and rescue teams to raise the level of readiness and experience sharing to carry out the tasks and duties with high professionalism. INSARAG Secretariat in OCHA Geneva Winston Chang commended the performance of Qatar International Search and Rescue Group in responding to crises in a number of world countries, especially the rapid response of the Group during Beirut Port explosion in 2020. This distinguished performance contributed to the selection of the Group as the Regional Chair of search and rescue teams from Africa, Europe and the Middle East during 2023, in recognition of its rapid response and its effectiveness in managing a number of global disasters. Speaking about the INSARAG Team Leaders (TLs) Meeting which is scheduled to be held in Doha tomorrow, Chang said that there are a lot of experiences that the international group has gained over the past thirty months. These experiences will be reviewed during the meeting to utilize them in dealing with disasters in the future, especially in light of the global climate changes that herald disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Qatar International Search and Rescue Group was established in 2004. The group consists of international planning and coordination offices, programs and rehabilitation offices, and a number of sections that include first aid, parachute jumping, paragliding, diving, chemical defense, support and backstop. The Group has contributed to more than 58 foreign missions in several countries. Its tasks include providing assistance to civil defense in preventing disasters and fires, and providing assistance to various security services. INSARAG is a global network of more than 90 countries and organizations under the United Nations umbrella. It deals with urban search and rescue (USAR) related issues, aiming to establish minimum international standards for USAR teams and methodology for international coordination in earthquake response based on the INSARAG Guidelines endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/150 of 2002, on "Strengthening the Effectiveness and Coordination of International Urban Search and Rescue Assistance". (QNA)