INTERNATIONAL EXERCISE ON EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE HELD IN ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.03.2009 15:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On initiative of UN Armenia Office and RA Ministry
of Emergency Situations, Armenia is hosting 3-day International
simulation-exercise on earthquake response organized by INSARAG.
INSARAG is a global network of more than 80 countries and disaster
response organizations under the United Nations umbrella. INSARAG deals
with urban search and rescue (USAR) related issues. INSARAG aims at
establishing standards for international USAR teams and methodology for
international coordination in earthquake response. Members of INSARAG
are both earthquake-prone and responding countries and organizations.
Each year, INSARAG organizes regional USAR simulation-exercises
and awareness training courses. These events provide a vehicle to
introduce and practice disaster response coordination methodology
as defined in the INSARAG Guidelines. The exercises and courses are
typically hosted by earthquake-prone countries. The target audience
are national disaster managers, the UNDAC team, IHP Support Modules as
well as domestic disaster response teams and international USAR teams.
"Such exercises aim to strengthen cooperation for disaster response,"
said RA Minister of Emergency Situations Mher Shahgeldyan, who attended
the opening ceremony today.