As part of its preparations to be rated Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR), by the United Nations’ International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), and in the wake of Iran’s recent earthquake felt by UAE residents, the UAE Search and Rescue Team took part in an advanced drill. This comes in line with the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ’s strategy which aims to ensure the appropriate preparedness to face disasters, as well as coordinate with neighboring countries to find the best means of disaster response.
Several teams from GCC countries partook in the drill, which was held at the UAE Search and Rescue Team’s camp at the Al Shalila area in Abu Dhabi. Among the participants were the Saudi, the Qatari, Kuwaiti, and the Bahraini teams.
Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Abdul Jalil Al Ansari, Chief of Search and Rescue Section at the Emergency and Public Safety Department, at Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, stated that participation of the various GCC teams in the drill embodies the Police leadership’s patronage and its unlimited support to the UAE Search and Rescue Team, which has become a leader in areas of search rescue in the region.
He noted that the team had achieved a head start in 2009 by being rated Medium Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR), in the United Nations’ International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) classification. It also assisted the Omani team to obtain INSARAG certification as a Medium USAR team.
“The GCC teams have participated efficiently in the drill with the UAE Search and Rescue Team, and leveraged the UAE’s experience in the area of search and rescue. They have also achieved the coveted goals, which aim to enhance and activate the GCC disaster response system, in light of the changing variables and natural conditions”, he continued.
Moreover, he explained that the drill focused on assessing the Team’s field response capabilities when dealing with natural disasters, and collapsed structures’ cases, as per the applied international system. The drill also aimed to evaluate the team’s response in various aspects namely; medical and logistic services; search and rescue; and police sniffer dogs.
For his part, Colonel Mishaal Abdul Qadir Al Sheikh, from the Saudi Search and Rescue Team, lauded the exemplary achievements of the UAE Search and Rescue Team on the regional level, in terms of the team members’ efficiency, their developed performance, and the use of the latest equipments and techniques in the search and rescue fields. Moreover, he emphasized the importance of leveraging the UAE’s experience to acquire further expertise in areas of search and rescue. He finally pointed out that such drills contribute to prepare the Saudi team members and develop their skills, to obtain INSARAG certification.
Captain Abdul Wahab Ali Fors, from the Technical Rescue Center in Kuwait, stressed that the Kuwaiti team participation in the drill aims to review and leverage the experience and competencies of the UAE team, considered as a pioneer in this field, and has a longstanding record of regional and international achievements.
“ The UAE’s pioneering experience in the search and rescue field is a strong incentive to set up the Bahraini search and rescue team, who van benefit significantly from the achievements made by the UAE team ,”said First Lt. Hamad Sewar, from the Bahraini Operations team.
“Participating in this drill with the UAE team represents an opportunity to leverage its great experience in this area,” added Hasan Ali Al Dosari, from the Search and Rescue Section of the Internal Security Forces in Qatar.