Comments made by Smt. Veena Kumari Meena, Joint Secretary (Disaster Management) in the Steering Group Meeting of the International Search and Rescue Advisory group (INSARAG) on 3 February 2016 Comments made by Smt. Veena Kumari Meena, Joint Secretary (Disaster Management) in the Steering Grou..
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Comments made by Smt. Veena Kumari Meena, Joint Secretary (Disaster Management) in the Steering Group Meeting of the International Search and Rescue Advisory group (INSARAG) on 3 February 2016

Permanent Mission of India
Geneva

Annual Meeting of the
INSARAG Steering Group
(3February 2016, CICG, Geneva)

Comments by India

 

  • At the outset, I would like to congratulate Ambassador Manuel Bessler for becoming the new INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) Global Chair. I would also like to thank the Secretariat for the useful and informative background documents, including the INSARAG Global Meeting (IGM) 2015 Chairman's summary.
  • Since its establishment in 1991, INSARAG has made significant progress and developed a world-wide accepted methodology for the coordination of international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams. 2015 has been an important year. In the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, 'Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response' is a priority area, which relates directly to INSARAG.
  • India has been closely following the INSARAG meetings both at regional and well as global levels. We take note of the key highlights of the INSARAG Report 2015-16 with interest. We hope that the launch of the updated INSARAG Guidelines 2015 would ensure that the standard setting is leading-edge and reflects the best practice of the network. Indiaappreciates the productive consultations that took place during the Second INSARAG Global Meeting held in Abu Dhabi, which are reflected in the Chairman's summary. In this context, India welcomes the INSARAG Abu Dhabi Declaration 2015, which reaffirms the commitment to the UNGA resolution on 'Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance' from 2015 to 2020. We also appreciate the quick and coordinated action of the INSARAG teams during the various crises that occurred during the year, including the Nepal earthquake.
  • India has raised a specialized National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to respond to several types of disasters including structural collapse. NDRF is organized in to 12 Battalions, with a strength of over 12000 personnel, fully trained in Collapsed Structure Search & Rescue (CSSR) operations, Medical First Response (MFR), Flood and Mountain Rescue Operations, Deep Diving Search & Rescue and Canine and Technical Search. NDRF has successfully demonstrated their ability and efficiency to quickly mobilize and respond to several categories of disasters faced within and outside the country.
  • India has indicated its keenness to get INSARAG External Classification (IEC) for our disaster response force. We are having internal consultations, taking the procedural requirements into consideration. We hope to conclude the process in the near future.
  • INSARAG has a busy year ahead with implementation of the 2015 Guidelines, strengthening partnerships with regional and technical partners and exploring initiatives to empower the regions lined up among the agenda items. The World Humanitarian Summit scheduled to be held in Istanbul in May will bring together critical humanitarian networks. As we move from adoption to implementation this year, we believe that today's deliberations in the Steering Group would be of immense value to further our core objectives of disaster preparedness and response.

Thank you.

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