Leaders of international search and rescue teams discuss development of global rapid response standards in Doha

The meeting of the leaders of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), organised by the Lekhwiya Force, began in Doha on Wednesday with the participation of representatives from 33 countries around the world, QNA reported.

The three-day meeting aims to enhance effective communication between international search and rescue teams, exchange experiences and best practices, identify mechanisms for developing unified global standards for capacities related to international preparedness and response to disasters, and to support the capabilities of countries exposed to natural and unnatural hazards.In his speech during the opening session, Head of the Legal Affairs Department of Lekhwiya Brig Gen Ibrahim Khalil al-Mohannadi said that Qatar hosting the INSARAG meeting for the second time, after the 2014 meeting is an indication of the country's interest and contribution to responding to the growing humanitarian needs in the world, under the guidance of the country's wise leadership.He said Qatar is one of the first countries to contribute to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to enable the United Nations to implement international programmes and to provide humanitarian relief to the needy and to various countries facing challenges to help them implement their development plans.Brig Gen al-Mohannadi said that the meeting coincides with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of INSARAG, which includes more than 90 countries and organisations specialised in issues related to urban search and rescue.He said that the meeting seeks to enhance co-ordination and co-operation between international search and rescue teams in case of disasters, develop effective international procedures and standards, enhance activities to improve their preparedness in their operations in disaster-prone countries, develop standardised guidelines and procedures, and learn about best practices and experiences in this regard.In a press statement on the sidelines of the meeting, Brig Gen al-Mohannadi said the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group of Lekhwiya gained experience as a result of the many participations at the regional and international levels, and this meeting is an opportunity to develop partnerships and benefit from the expertise of the various teams.The Commander of the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group, Lt Col Mubarak Sherida al-Kaabi, said that the working groups of the international search and rescue teams held during the past two days, a series of meetings to discuss many topics to arrive at the best lessons learned during the past 30 months and to develop them appropriately for the leaders' meetings.He referred to INSARAG naming 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.He also pointed out that the joint Qatari-Omani exercise organised this week, as part of a series of joint bilateral exercises in the field of search and rescue aims to enhance joint work and to enhance expertise.Meanwhile, Winston Chang, head of INSARAG Secretariat at the Emergency Response Support Branch Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said the Doha meeting was the first in-person meeting for INSARAG since their meeting in Chile back in 2019.He highlighted the importance of this meeting in co-ordinating joint humanitarian efforts in facing crises around the world, particularly those related to epidemics and climate change.He added that the distinguished performance of the group was a contributor to its choice as a regional leader for search and rescue groups in the EMEA region next year, and thanked its rapid response and good management of several international crises.The Qatar International Search and Rescue Group was established back in 2004, and began its first participation abroad a year later. It participated in the search and rescue operations in Pakistan after it was hit by an earthquake. It participated in 60 different operations since then. (QNA)