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The Asia-Pacific Regional Group meeting of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) begins here tomorrow. India is the Chairperson of the INSARAG Asia Pacific Regional Group for the period from 31st March, 2005 to 30th March, 2006. The two-day meeting will be inaugurated by the Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil. Delegates from 23 countries of the Asia-Pacific Region, representatives of INSARAG Africa, Europe and American Regional Groups, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia Disaster Prevention Centre (ADPC), Bangkok will be participating in the meeting, organised by the Government of India.
Established in 1991, INSARAG is an inter-governmental network under the United Nations umbrella, which deals with Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and related disaster response issues. INSARAG provides a platform for exchange of information to define standards for international USAR assistance and develop methodology for cooperation and co-ordination in earthquake response. The Field Co-ordination Support Section (FCSS) located within the Emergency Services Branch of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations Secretariat in Geneva functions as the INSARAG Secretariat. India being a member of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system is part of the INSARAG Asia Pacific Regional Group and has been participating in the INSARAG meetings at international and regional levels through the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) or representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Instructors from India have also been participating in the mock exercises organized by the INSARAG.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated the process of creating a specialist capability in search and rescue in the country. Eight battalions of Central Para Military Forces have been earmarked for training, equipping and grouping into specialist Search and Rescue Teams. The team structure, qualitative requirements, training syllabus and equipment for training and teams have been finalized as per international standards. Our trainers have been trained in search and rescue in India and abroad.
The Government of NCT of Delhi have made substantial progress in creating search and rescue capabilities and a mock drill on handling a disaster situation arising out of an earthquake was organized in Delhi. The Govt. of NCT Delhi has played an important role in organising this meeting.
There is a need to expand global co-operation including regional and sub-regional strategies to promote joint dissemination of technical and scientific knowledge. The countries in the region should be provided with the technical and institutional support in medical first response, search and rescue and other relief measures. The Government of India is of the view that there is a need for more global co-operation including regional and sub-regional strategies to promote joint dissemination of technical and scientific knowledge in this area. During the period of India’s Chairmanship, many activities are being planned to be organised in the country to share the best practices in USAR, lessons learnt in the past and also showcase the achievements made by India. This event would likely to generate interest among the public about the Government’s preparedness against earthquakes and other disasters.
OK/ RK
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