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PRESS RELEASE
UN Department of Public Information, Yerevan Office
14 Petros Adamyan str., First Floor
Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Contact: Armine Halajyan, UN DPI Officer-in-Charge
Tel.: (374 1) 560 212
Fax/Tel.: (374 1) 561 406
http://www.un.am
Armenia Hosted an Earthquake Simulation Response Exercise
25 March 2009
On 24-26 March 2009, the United Nations Office in Armenia and the Rescue
Service of Armenia, under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, implemented
the INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) Earthquake
Simulation Response Exercise. This exercise is designed to put into practice
all the different components involved in the coordination of international
response to a country affected during a sudden onset of natural disaster.
INSARAG Secretariat organizes similar Simulation Response Exercises every
year, which are unique awareness and training courses. Earthquake Simulation
Response Exercise in Armenia aims to increase the awareness of INSARAG
disaster response methodologies amongst national and local authorities in
Armenia, and to practice coordination and cooperation between international
and national responders during major disasters, such as earthquakes.
Disaster managers and USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams from 22
countries, various UN agencies with their local counterparts, international
organizations operating in Armenia, and emergency managers from relevant
institutions participated in the exercise in Armenia.
The exercise was supported by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) in Armenia, with funding from the Government of Estonia. The Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and German Technical
Cooperation (GTZ) also provided support in organization of the exercise.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Bushra Halepota said, `While the United
Nations and the international community promote a global culture of natural
disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and
preparedness, earthquakes will still happen in high-risk areas, resulting in
collapsed buildings and infrastructure. Therefore, it is of utmost
importance to be well-prepared for potential earthquake scenarios and have
all the coordination arrangements in place for both national and
international response mechanisms and ensure prompt, effective search and
rescue operations, and relief response.'
INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group)
The INSARAG, under the UN umbrella, was established in 1991 following
initiatives of international search and rescue teams that responded to the
1988 Spitak earthquake. The Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) became a center of a global network of more than 80 countries and
disaster response organizations, simplifying international response
procedures. The Field Coordination Support Section of the OCHA in Geneva
functions as INSARAG Secretariat. The main goal of INSARAG is the efficient
implementation of search and rescue works as part of international response,
coordination of work of rescue services of various countries, drafting of
common methodology, and establishment of cooperation between international
rescue teams and local disaster management authorities, including their
deployment, operations, information management and drafting of common
standards.
The INSARAG Guidelines have been endorsed in the UN General Assembly
Resolution of 16 December 2002. It deals with urban search and rescue (USAR)
related issues and aims at establishing standards for international USAR
teams and methodology for international coordination in earthquake response.
The same GA Resolution endorses organizing simulation exercises annually as
training on INSARAG methodology.
Thus, the main goals of the exercise in Armenia are:
=95 Mobilization of international search and rescue teams,
=95 Planning of joint actions of the Armenian Rescue Service and these
teams,
=95 Practice coordination and cooperation between international and
national responders during major disasters, such as earthquakes.
The exercise scenario is based on a possible major earthquake which requires
the affected country to make a request for international assistance. It will
see active involvement of international search and rescue teams responding
and working alongside national counterparts. In parallel, there will be
engagement of the national emergency management team (LEMA) working
alongside the in-country UN Disaster Management Team (DMT). As a part of
international response practice, the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination
(UNDAC) team will be deployed to assist national emergency management team
(LEMA) in establishing an immediate response coordination structures at the
airport, as well as on site operations and coordination center (OSOCC).
* * *
From: Baghdasarian
UN Department of Public Information, Yerevan Office
14 Petros Adamyan str., First Floor
Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Contact: Armine Halajyan, UN DPI Officer-in-Charge
Tel.: (374 1) 560 212
Fax/Tel.: (374 1) 561 406
http://www.un.am
Armenia Hosted an Earthquake Simulation Response Exercise
25 March 2009
On 24-26 March 2009, the United Nations Office in Armenia and the Rescue
Service of Armenia, under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, implemented
the INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) Earthquake
Simulation Response Exercise. This exercise is designed to put into practice
all the different components involved in the coordination of international
response to a country affected during a sudden onset of natural disaster.
INSARAG Secretariat organizes similar Simulation Response Exercises every
year, which are unique awareness and training courses. Earthquake Simulation
Response Exercise in Armenia aims to increase the awareness of INSARAG
disaster response methodologies amongst national and local authorities in
Armenia, and to practice coordination and cooperation between international
and national responders during major disasters, such as earthquakes.
Disaster managers and USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams from 22
countries, various UN agencies with their local counterparts, international
organizations operating in Armenia, and emergency managers from relevant
institutions participated in the exercise in Armenia.
The exercise was supported by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) in Armenia, with funding from the Government of Estonia. The Swiss
Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and German Technical
Cooperation (GTZ) also provided support in organization of the exercise.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Bushra Halepota said, `While the United
Nations and the international community promote a global culture of natural
disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and
preparedness, earthquakes will still happen in high-risk areas, resulting in
collapsed buildings and infrastructure. Therefore, it is of utmost
importance to be well-prepared for potential earthquake scenarios and have
all the coordination arrangements in place for both national and
international response mechanisms and ensure prompt, effective search and
rescue operations, and relief response.'
INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group)
The INSARAG, under the UN umbrella, was established in 1991 following
initiatives of international search and rescue teams that responded to the
1988 Spitak earthquake. The Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) became a center of a global network of more than 80 countries and
disaster response organizations, simplifying international response
procedures. The Field Coordination Support Section of the OCHA in Geneva
functions as INSARAG Secretariat. The main goal of INSARAG is the efficient
implementation of search and rescue works as part of international response,
coordination of work of rescue services of various countries, drafting of
common methodology, and establishment of cooperation between international
rescue teams and local disaster management authorities, including their
deployment, operations, information management and drafting of common
standards.
The INSARAG Guidelines have been endorsed in the UN General Assembly
Resolution of 16 December 2002. It deals with urban search and rescue (USAR)
related issues and aims at establishing standards for international USAR
teams and methodology for international coordination in earthquake response.
The same GA Resolution endorses organizing simulation exercises annually as
training on INSARAG methodology.
Thus, the main goals of the exercise in Armenia are:
=95 Mobilization of international search and rescue teams,
=95 Planning of joint actions of the Armenian Rescue Service and these
teams,
=95 Practice coordination and cooperation between international and
national responders during major disasters, such as earthquakes.
The exercise scenario is based on a possible major earthquake which requires
the affected country to make a request for international assistance. It will
see active involvement of international search and rescue teams responding
and working alongside national counterparts. In parallel, there will be
engagement of the national emergency management team (LEMA) working
alongside the in-country UN Disaster Management Team (DMT). As a part of
international response practice, the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination
(UNDAC) team will be deployed to assist national emergency management team
(LEMA) in establishing an immediate response coordination structures at the
airport, as well as on site operations and coordination center (OSOCC).
* * *
From: Baghdasarian