Challenges in world USAR
Published: 30 March, 2009
It is difficult – if not impossible – to over-emphasise the role that INSARAG has played in international USAR
response since its inception in 1991. F&R talks exclusively with INSARAG Chairman Toni Frisch.
Swiss USAR teams work with local teams following the Algerian earthquake of May 2003. Toni Frisch explains that large scale disasters such as earthquakes are the best examples of how well the INSARAG method works in practice.
What are the biggest challenges for INSARAG bearing in mind the increasing number and scale of natural disasters?
Good, smooth coordination of response and adequate operational standards of the international teams responding to sudden-onset disasters are the biggest challenges. It is very important to ensure that there are pre-agreed procedures for coordination. Otherwise it would be very challenging considering that an average USAR team comes to an affected country with 50 -70 personnel and tonnes of equipment, and that the affected country has to deal with large numbers of such international USAR teams. As the scale and number of disasters increase, these challenges become more acute. Coordinating all these teams is a race against time, ensuring that all the teams have a common understanding of the requirements is crucial for this purpose – and this is where the great value of INSARAG lies.
What are the challenges for the future?
Firstly, making sure that the mechanisms are in place so that a country receives only the most appropriate available USAR resources. This can be achieved by classifying teams according to their capacities, which is what we’ve started doing.
The INSARAG External Classification process classifies independent, external evaluation team and to date, over a dozen international gone through the process. Many teams have now been classified as being in a position to carry out rescue operations independently in any country.
The second challenge of the future, in this era of urbanisation, is to ensure that we assist all interested countries in building up their national USAR capacities to agreed operational standards. This is a huge challenge and we have just started on it.
In your view what natural disasters have best showcased how well INSARAG can work?
Earthquakes in general are the best examples of how well the INSARAG methodology works. The nature of the earthquake requires very rapid deployment of USAR resources. I think the Turkey earthquake of November 1999 in Izmit and the Pakistan earthquake of December 2005 centred on Muzaffarabad are the two prominent examples that come to mind where the methodology and coordination based on practised INSARAG Guidelines proved their worth.
Another important example was an earthquake in Iran in 2003. We were the first there and we immediately saw that rescue dogs and big rescue operations would not be needed. The affected city had been built out of mud so when the buildings collapsed the victims quickly suffocated. We were able to use our network to quickly spread the word not to deploy rescue operations. It is important to know when not to overwhelm a country with rescue operations that are not needed.
How does INSARAG ensure the same level of USAR training and skills across member states?
INSARAG Guidelines provide checklists for the minimum requirements of USAR teams intending to deploy to international response operations.
INSARAG organises various training and exercises by Regions for practicing these requirements in accordance with the INSARAG Guidelines. Fore example, last year we held a major earthquake response exercise for the Asia-Pacific region in the Philippines, and this year are holding similar exercises in Armenia and Kathmandu, Nepal. These activities promote close cooperation and exchange of knowledge among the international USAR teams. INSARAG has also been working on developing training courses for USAR first responders where the USAR team members can practice basic skills.
And, as I mentioned earlier, INSARAG has the INSARAG External response
Classification process which ensures common operational standards. IEC ensures common, independently certified skills are available across member states and teams.
What is Virtual OSOCC?
Virtual OSOCC is an on-line information exchange and coordination tool used by responders during disasters to exchange information in order to facilitate their decision-making for international assistance.
It provides a real time information exchange by all actors of the
international disaster response community.
The Virtual OSOCC facilitates operational deployment and management of the UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination) and international USAR teams from INSARAG member states. We use it to ensure that international USAR teams deploying to an emergency have access to real time information about the disaster and all other teams plans and movements so that coordination can be achieved.
Which activities have proved most effective in encouraging cooperation between international USAR teams?
To facilitate a synergised and swift response to a disaster in order to save lives, INSARAG members need to meet regularly to exchange ideas and share best practices through various activities. I think, the annual international USAR Team Leaders Meeting which is held around the world in different regions is one of the most effective forums for discussing technical issues relating best practices based on lessons learned from previous USAR operations and exercises – as well as training.
Another very effective activity providing a great platform for
cooperation is the INSARAG earthquake response simulation
exercises which we hold in disaster-prone countries around the
world. At these exercises, skeleton international USAR teams from
around the world get the opportunity to come together and
practice international coordination methodology in accordance
with the INSARAG Guidelines. Another useful activity is the annual
INSARAG Regional Meetings where both disaster prone and
responding countries can discuss USAR related issues, regional
cooperation and capacity building.
Are any disaster-prone countries not members of INSARAG? Why not?
Today almost any country can be considered disaster-prone.Therefore, many disaster-prone countries are not members ofINSARAG. This is – in my view – primarily because of lack ofawareness and in some cases the rural nature of the country,which means they consider USAR a lower priority.We do our best to encourage countries to become members
by sponsoring their participation in INSARAG activities and trying to make their decision-makers aware of the advantages of joining INSARAG.
How does INSARAG facilitate the fast entry ofinternational USAR teams and their equipmentinto disaster zones?
It was as a result of the efforts of INSARAG member countries that the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 2002 a GA Resolution on “Improving the effectiveness and coordination of international search and rescue assistance” (GA Resolution 57/150 of 16 Dec 2002) which endorsed the INSARAG guidelines. The guidelines describe responsibilities for both assisting and affected countries. These responsibilities include preparedness as well as mobilisation, deployment and acceptance of international teams. A paragraph of 57/150 enjoins on member states to facilitate the entry of teams and their equipment into disaster zones.
INSARAG also has methodology by which the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team establishes a Reception/Departure Centre (RDC) at the airport of entry in the affected country along with national authorities for the fast entry of the teams. The RDC links with the key components operating the airport and facilitates the smooth and fast entry of the teams into the country. To achieve this, RDC also benefits from the information management mechanisms through Virtual OSOCC.
INSARAG’s guidelines were endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2002. As well as describing the responsibilities for assisting and affected countries, the guidelines outline how teams must be allowed into disaster zones.
