TEHRAN -The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and Tehran Fire Department have been assessed by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) and Emergency Situations and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters of the Russian Federation (EMERCOM).

The initial assessment mission was held from March 9 to 14 to achieve international classification according to the INSARAG standards.

Capacity building is at the heart of INSARAG and the EMERCOM of the Russian Federation, as a member of the INSARAG network, agreed to provide its technical expertise to support this initiative, UN Website announced in a press release on March 19.

Throughout the week-long mission, INSARAG and EMERCOM representatives met with Iranian officials and visited the Relief and Rescue Center of IRCS and Training Center of Tehran Fire Department.

The mission was initiated in response to a request from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was facilitated by the Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization (TDMMO) on behalf of the National Disaster Management Organization (NDMO).

This mission established a roadmap for the remaining steps ahead of the completion of the classification process. 

On March 13, there was a meeting attended by Mohammad Hassan Nami, the head of NDMO, and Ali Nasiri, the president of TDMMO, along with Lucien Jaggi, representative of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as well as several EMERCOM mentors, and the UN Resident Coordinator to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Stefan Priesner.

During the meeting, Priesner expressed his satisfaction with Iran's decision to join INSARAG, highlighting its significance in international search and rescue efforts.

“INSARAG is a very advanced mechanism for international collaboration in search and rescue which saves lives. I am glad to see that Iran has embarked on the journey to join this important platform,” he said.

Jaggi, for his part, said, "The mission conducted by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group marks a crucial milestone in the journey towards officially classifying the Iranian USAR teams on a global scale. Witnessing the team's unwavering strength and dedication to meeting international standards has inspired us to continue collaborating on enhancing the life-saving abilities of all INSARAG network members.”

INSARAG classification

Achieving INSARAG classification is a rigorous process, yet the rewards are substantial.  Classification signifies that a team has successfully met the required standards, enabling them to deploy globally with confidence, knowing they can effectively collaborate with other classified teams in disaster zones.

This leads to quicker, more coordinated rescue efforts, resulting in the potential to save more lives during emergencies1. 

INSARAG classification also contributes to bolstering a country's overall disaster preparedness. The classification procedure strives to reinforce a team's capabilities through rigorous assessment and capacity building. 

Additionally, classified teams gain access to INSARAG's global network of resources, training opportunities, and information sharing, fostering continuous improvement.

The INSARAG classification brings international recognition but also reflects urban search and rescue’s (USAR) commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and effectiveness in saving lives during urban search and rescue operations.

Iranian teams attend intl. INSARANG Forum

In October 2023, Iranian crisis management teams participated in the International INSARAG forum, which was held in Doha, Qatar, on October 18-19.

The country’s representatives were invited by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the INSARAG Secretariat in Geneva to attend the meeting, Majid Aron, an official with Tehran Crisis Management Organization, said, ISNA reported.

The teams participated in the Global Forum on INSARAG after the action review (AAR) of the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) response to the Turkey and Syria earthquakes.

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on February 6 resulted in the largest-ever deployment of the INSARAG network.

On the sidelines of the forum, Iranian participants met Jaggi, and Winston Chang, the representative of the INSARAG Secretariat in Geneva,

They discussed the cooperation of the United Nations OCHA and the INSARAG Secretariat in Geneva in the process of the Iranian urban search and rescue teams’ membership in the INSARAG network.

They also discussed when and how the assessment team will examine the current Iranian teams, select a suitable mentor (consultant) for them, hold the required training programs regarding the coordination, standards, guidelines, equipment, systems, and INSARAG software in the coordination and management of information and urban search and rescue operations.

MT/MG