Earthquake response exercises

COSPAS SARSAT International Search and Rescue Satellite System

COSPAS SARSAT International Search and Rescue Satellite System

One of the major challenges facing the INSARAG community is to develop a system whereby responding Governments, on the basis of the advice of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team on site and the INSARAG secretariat, stop the deployment of additional international search and rescue teams when they are not required.

C. Regional disaster response preparedness activities

Guidelines of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group

Since teams are provided on the basis of bilateral agreements between affected and responding Governments, it is recommended that responding Governments follow the advice given by the INSARAG secretariat.

57 150. Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance

(f) Development of COSPAS SARSAT, the international tracking and rescue system

The Nadezhda satellite continued operating within the COSPAS SARSAT international system for tracking and rescuing sea vessels and aircraft in distress.

The Nadezhda satellites continued operating within the COSPAS SARSAT international system for tracking and rescuing sea vessels and aircraft in distress.

The International Satellite System For Search and Rescue (COSPAS SARSAT) has provided alerts that have assisted in the rescue of over 17,000 persons in distress in about 5,000 search and rescue events since 1982.

The exercises enabled international response teams from the respective regions to work closely with national authorities of earthquake prone countries in accordance with the INSARAG guidelines.

The Nadezhda satellites continued operating within the International Search and Rescue Satellite System (COSPAS SARSAT), an international system for tracking and rescuing sea vessels and aircraft in distress.

1. Stresses the need to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, with the aim of contributing towards saving more human lives

Smooth on site coordination in the event of a major disaster involving both national and international responders is a major challenge.

Welcoming the efforts of Member States, with facilitation by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and in cooperation with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, and in this context noting its resolution 57 150 of 16 December 2002 entitled Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance ,

Stopping the deployment of excess international search and rescue teams

The International Satellite System For Search and Rescue (COSPAS SARSAT) has provided alerts that have assisted in the rescue of persons in distress and in rescue events since 1982.

These will assist national authorities and the international community in improving the quality and timeliness of international urban search and rescue assistance.

In order to facilitate the absorption of INSARAG methodology in Arabic and French speaking countries of North Africa and the Middle East, in April 2004 the Governments of Tunisia, Switzerland and Germany, in cooperation with the INSARAG secretariat, established an INSARAG regional antenna office in Tunis to translate INSARAG documents into Arabic and French and disseminate them in the region.

Welcoming the efforts of Member States, with the facilitation of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and in cooperation with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, and recalling its resolution 57 150 of 16 December 2002, entitled Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance ,

The revised guidelines also include agreed standards for classification of international search and rescue teams according to their capabilities in collapsed structure rescue.

According to General Assembly resolution 57 150 and the INSARAG guidelines, it is the responsibility of States to ensure the safety and security of international search and rescue staff working in the country.

United Nations and other international humanitarian relief efforts must be supported.

Update on the activities of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group

In the aftermath of the response effort, the INSARAG secretariat, located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, organized lessons learned meetings with the participation of international responders and the Governments of the affected countries.

15. Takes note of the initiatives taken by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of international urban search and rescue assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters

The international community needs to remain engaged during the period of transition from relief to development.

Commending the work of the United Nations Disaster Assistance and Coordination teams in facilitating rapid need assessments and assisting Member States to organize the on site coordination of international urban search and rescue operations,

Participants evaluated the applicability of the INSARAG methodology in all phases of the response operation and made recommendations for improving the methodology that were later incorporated in the INSARAG guidelines.

They were widely used by the international urban search and rescue community during the response to the earthquakes that occurred in the reporting period and in all of the earthquake response exercises mentioned above.

Their mass would be from 60 to 400 kg and they could be used to carry radio equipment for the International Search and Rescue System (COSPAS SARSAT).

As a result, substantial amounts of international relief food aid are likely to be required until October 1999.

The International Federation welcomes efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations.

2. Expresses its appreciation to all States of the international community, international agencies and non governmental organizations that are providing emergency relief assistance to Belize

First United Nations Workshop on the International Search and Rescue Satellite System (COSPAS SARSAT) for African search and rescue points of contact (SPOCS) and the Spanish Mission Control Centre

Second United Nations Workshop on the International Search and Rescue Satellite System for African search and rescue points of contact and the Spanish Mission Control Centre

Although the Government of Pakistan did not officially request international assistance and provided over 2.3 million worth of relief aid, the international community contributed more than 4 million worth of assistance.

national Search and Rescue (SAR) system

Major International NGOs Substantial ODA resources are now channelled through large international NGOs (e.g. CARE International, OXFARM, etc) working to support short term emergency assistance and long term development.

2. Expresses its appreciation to the members of the international community that have offered their support to the rescue efforts and emergency assistance for the affected population

Do you turn off the international spigot of life support and risk two million civilian lives?

The kidnapping of international and Palestinian aid workers was a matter of concern.

8. Encourages Member States, with the facilitation of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and in cooperation with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, to continue efforts to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, including the further development of common standards