Meeting of the INSARAG Regional Group
Africa Europe Middle East
Kobe, JAPAN
14 September 2010
Chairman’s Summary and Work-Plan
The meeting of the INSARAG Regional Group Africa Europe Middle East was held in Kobe, Japan on 14 September 2010. The meeting was held in conjunction with the first Global INSARAG meetinghosted byJapan International Cooperation Agency-JICA and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; co-organised by OCHA in its capacity as the INSARAG Secretariat. The meeting was opened and chaired by Mr. Mohamed Al-Ansari, Chairperson of the INSARAG Africa Europe Middle East Regional Group. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. RajanGengaje, Regional Disaster Reduction Advisor of the OCHA Regional Office of Asia Pacific. The meeting was attended by 72 participants from 38 countries and organizations. A list of participants is attached.
Thisoneday meeting included the following agenda items:
1. Review of Progress on on-going Regional Activities in 2009/2010 INSARAG Regional Group Africa Europe Middle East Meeting and Lessons learned
2. Reports of INSARAG Activities Worldwide since the Last Regional Meeting and Overview of Upcoming Events
- INSARAG Steering Group
- INSARAG USAR Team Leaders Meeting including IEC Classifiers Meeting
- Organizational and Operational Standards for National USAR Teams Working Group Meeting
- Haiti Earthquake After Action Review Meeting
- INSARAG Regional Group Asia Pacific
- INSARAG Regional Group Africa/Europe/Middle East
- INSARAG Regional Group Americas
- INSARAG Working Group Updates :Training and Medical Working Group
3. Discussion on the Draft INSARAG Hyogo Declaration
4. Discussion on the draft proposals of the INSARAG “Organisational and Operational Standards for Capacity Building of National USAR Teams”
5. Discussions on the INSARAG Antenna Office – Review and Recommendations on the next steps
6. Discussion on the Draft INSARAG External Classification (IEC) Guidelines
7. Discussion on the Strategic Activities for the 2010/11 Regional Work plan
8. Election of the Regional Chairperson for 2011
The discussions during the meeting resulted in recommendations for follow-up activities, as described in the work-plan of the Regional Group Africa Europe Middle East for 2010/11 given below.
Reports of INSARAG Activities Worldwide since the Last Regional Meeting and Overview of Upcoming Events
The INSARAG Secretariat updated the meeting on INSARAG Activities Worldwide since the last Regional Meeting of 2009. The following points were raised following this presentation:
The meeting was encouraged by the initiative of IRO to make rescue dog teams available to USAR teams that do not have this resource. It was however highlighted that there is a need for such dog teams to be properly integrated into USAR teams ahead of any deployment international.
Action: IRO / INSARAG Secretariat
A request was made for INSARAG awareness training to be arranged in South Africa as part of an effort to bolster INSARAG awareness in the region.
Action: South Africa / INSARAG Secretariat
Discussion on the Draft INSARAG External Classification (IEC) Guidelines
The INSARAG Secretariat provided an overview of the draft IEC guidelines. The following points were raised following this presentation:
It was felt that the capacity of IEC medium teams as portrayed in the IEC guidelines should be reviewed to ensure they highlight the differences between medium and heavy teams appropriately.
Action: INSARAG Secretariat
Questions were raised regarding the priority of heavy teams in the IEC process. The Steering group was requested to consider a prioritisation system for teams requesting heavy IEC. For further discussion in the SG in 2011.
Action: INSARAG Secretariat / Steering Group
The role of a mentor in the IEC process was highlighted as being very important in ensuring teams are successful in their IECs.
Action: Member Countries
Questions were raised regarding the accountability surrounding the potential of unsuccessful IEC attempts. At the same time the issues of sanctions for teams not adhering to IEC obligations was raised. To this end sponsors are reminded of their responsibly to ensure IEC classified teams adhere to their obligations.
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
Teams were strongly advised to observe other IECs ahead of running their own IEC event.
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
All teams are encouraged to review the draft IEC Guidelines document further with appropriate technical experts in their teams. All feedback should be provided through the Virtual OSOCC no later than the end of October 2010.
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
It was clarified that heavy IEC classified teams are also authorized to respond as a medium team as required depending on the nature of the event, with the expectation that this should be duly noted on the Virtual OSOCC and Team Fact Sheet.
Action: Member Countries
Discussions on the INSARAG Antenna Office – Review and Recommendations on the next steps
A discussion was facilitated regarding recommendations and next steps for the use of an Antenna. The following points were raised during this discussion:
Continued review and updating of methodology is an important part of INSARAG work. The INSARAG Antenna was identified as playing an important role in ensuring these updates are appropriately added to current methodology.
A historic prospective by certain member states of the Antenna has shown that the concept has lead to great gains in the further involvement of specific geographic regions to the INSARAG.
The Swiss government reaffirmed its commitment to continue its shared funding support of the current Antenna.
The need for more donors was highlighted so as to eases any burdens being placed on current traditional donors.
Action: Member Countries
The proposed review of the Antenna concept was considered an important next step to ensure the concept can be best used in the future.A report back loop was identified as an important aspect to be considered in the review process.
Action: INSARAG Secretariat
It was proposed that the INSARAG antenna review should include closer investigation into how sub-regional and regional organisations could be better integrated into INSARAG activities.
Action: INSARAG Secretariat
The value of translation capacity made available by the Antenna was highlighted as an valuable contribution in ensuring INSARAG methodology is well understood by current and potential INSARAG active countries. At the same time it was highlighted that translation of documents should only be seen as a first step in further building the INSARAG network.
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
Discussion on the draft proposals of the INSARAG “Organisational and Operational Standards for Capacity Building of National USAR Teams”
A discussion was facilitated regarding this draft proposal. The following points were raised during this discussion:
It was highlighted that this concept should in no way be seen as an IEC and as such is absolutely voluntary.
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
This initiative was welcomed as a great step forward in helping national teams become aware of the type of requirements of a USAR team.
This concept was identified as being helpful to donors working on capacity building projects.
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
Discussion on the Draft INSARAG Hyogo Declaration
An introduction was provided on the draft declaration jointly by the INSARAG secretariat, OCHA and the Government of Japan. Attention was drawn to Section Two of the draft declaration which outlines the INSARAG community’s valuable role in humanitarian assistance as well as national capacity building.
The meeting acknowledged the draft declaration as a valuable step forward for INSARAG.
The INSARAG secretariat noted proposals made by the regional group.
Action: MemberStates, INSARAG Secretariat
Africa/Europe/Middle East Regional Group INSARAG Activities 2010/11
The INSARAG Secretariat presented a list of relevant INSARAG activities scheduled for 2011. All INSARAG Africa/Europe/Middle East member countries are strongly encouraged to participate in these activities:
- Annual INSARAG USAR Team Leaders Meeting in the Americas in 2011 (dates to be confirmed).
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
- INSARAG Africa/Europe/Middle East Regional Group Earthquake Response Exercise in UAE in 2011 (dates tbc)
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat / UAE
- INSARAG IEC schedule of Africa/Europe/Middle East Regional Group for 2010:
- Austria, SARUV; May 2011 (dates tbc)
- Hungary (2 teams); dates tbc
- Lithuania, LERT; 24-29 April 2011
- Russia, EMERCOM; 27 June-02 July 2011
- Spain, ERICAM; dates tbc
- Turkey (2 teams); dates tbc
- UK (2 NGO teams); tbc
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
4. A proposal was made for the creation of a capacity building network so as to be more inclusive in the approach of member states.
Action: Member Countries / INSARAG Secretariat
5. The INSARAG website was identified as requiring urgent attention so as to ensure professional communication of INSARAG activities and initiatives to the wider world.
Action: INSARAG Secretariat
6. The current Regional Chairman(UAE) has been requested to visit the Arabian Gulf countries in an effort to further encourage and include these countries into INSARAG activities.
Action: Regional Chair(UAE)
Rotation of Regional Chairman
-As customary in the Regional Group, the present Vice Chairman of the Regional Group, Sweden, will take over the duties of Chairman of the Regional Group on 01 January 2011 for the year 2011.
-Russia was elected to be the Vice Chairman of the Regional Group for 2011.
Action: Sweden / Russia / INSARAG Secretariat
Next Regional Meeting
-The next INSARAG Africa/Europe/Middle East Regional Group meeting will be held in Sweden (dates to be confirmed).
Action: Sweden / INSARAG Secretariat
Acknowledgement
The INSARAG Secretariat and participants from the INSARAG Regional Group Africa Europe Middle Eastwould like to express its deepest appreciation and thanks to the Government of Japan, for hosting the meeting.
END.
Africa, Middle East and Europe Regional Meeting
Kobe, Japan
14 September 2010
List of Participants
(in alphabetical order)
African Union
Mr. Olabisi Dare
Head, Humanitarian Affairs Division
African Union Commission
Ethiopia
Tel: + 251115517700
Email: ,
Armenia
Col. Edan Sngryan
Head of Monitoring Centre
Deputy Head of Department of the Population and Territories Protection
Department of the Armenian Rescue Service
Ministry of Emergency Situations of Republic of Armenia
Pushkin Str. 25, Yerevan
Republic of Armenia
Tel: +37410 53 15 02
Fax: +37410 53 68 88
Email:
Mr. Ashkhen Tovmasyan
Head of Scientific-Technical
Research Department of National Survey for Seismic Protection
Ministry of Emergency Situations of Republic of Armenia
Republic of Armenia
Tel: +37410 53 15 02
Fax: +37410 53 68 88
Email:
Austria
Ms. Marie Büllingen
Second Secretary
Austrian Embassy Tokyo
1-1-20 Moto Azabu,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0046
Japan
Tel: + 81 334 51 82 81-26
Fax: + 81 334 51 82 83
Email: marie-clara.buellingen.gv.at
Belgium
Mr. Nicolas Remi Tuts
Col. Ing., Chief Officer
Civil Protection Unit
Sécurité Civile
Service public fédéral Intérieur
Rue Vincent Bonnechère 32,
B-4367, Crisnée
Kingdom of Belgium
Tel: +32 4 257 6600
Fax: +32 4 257 4044
Mobile: +32 4 754 80224
Email:
Czech Republic
Mr. Roman Francl
Fire Officer
Ministry of Interior
General Directorate of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic
Kloknerova 26, Post Box 69, 14801 Praha 414
Czech Republic
Tel: + 420 950 81 9820
Fax: + 420 950 81 9964, +420 950 81 9965
Mobile: + 420 724 178 410
Email:
Egypt
Ms. Mai Khalil
Counsellor
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Tokyo, Japan
Tel: + (81) 03 3770 8022
Fax: + (81) 03 3770 8021
Email:
Estonia
Mr. Gert Teder
USAR Programme Officer
Estonian Rescue Board
2 Raua
10124 Tallinn
Estonia
Mobile: +3725275643
Email:
Finland
Mr. Harry Frelander
Ministerial Adviser
Rescue Services Department
Ministry of the Interior
P.O.Box 26
00023 Governments, Helsinki
Finland
Tel: +358 71 878 8443
Fax: +358 9 160 44672
Mobile: +358 50 456 0010
Email:
France
Mr. Pascal Buisson
USAR Squad Leader
Pompiers de l'urgence internationale
20 rue des fuchsias
87280 Limoges
France
Tel: + 33 06 22217262
Email:
Mr. Philippe Besson
Chief Fire and rescue
Pompiers de l'urgence internationale
2 Avenue Vincent Auriol
87100 Limoges Cedex
France
Tel: + 33 555 12 8031
Fax: + 33 55512 8001
Mobile: + 33 612 224 854
Email: ,
Mr. Bruno Besson
Chief International Missions
Secouristes Sans Frontiere
Lotissement le Bernadieu
73610 Lepin Le Lac
France
Tel: + 33 6 8655 35 79
Email:,
Ghana
Mr. Kofi Portuphy
National Coordinator
National Disaser Management Organisation
Plot 3 Brigade East Kanda,P.O. Box CT 3994
Cantonments, Accra
Ghana
Email:
Germany
Mr. Volker Strotmann
Head of Department for Operations
German Federal Agency for Technical Relief
Provinzialstraße 93
D 53127 Bonn
Germany
Tel: +49 228 940 1900
Fax: +49 228 940 1144
Email:
Mr. Stefan Biedermann
Deputy Consul General
German Consulate General
Umeda Sky Building
Tower East, 35 th F.
1-1-88-3501, Oyodonaka, Kita-ku
Osaka 531-6035
Japan
Tel: + 81 664405070
Fax: + 81 664405080
Email:
Mr. Alexander Olbrich
Consul General
German Consulate General
Umeda Sky Building
Tower East, 35th Floor
1-1-88-3501, Oyodonaka, Kita-ku
Osaka 531-6035
Japan
Tel: + 81 (0) 664405070
Fax: + 81 (0) 664405080
Email:
Germany, I.S.A.R.
Ms. Daniela Lesmeister
President
International Search and Rescue
Kaiser-Friedrich-Strasse 291
47533 Duisburg
Germany
Fax: +49 2821 7113 730
Mobile: +49 175 / 26 73 741
Email:
Mr. Ralf Heuberg
ISAR Germany
International Search and Rescue
Kaiser-Friedrich-Strasse 291
47533 Duisburg
Germany
Tel: + 49175/2673741
Fax: + 492825/539236
Mobile: + 49 175 2673739
Email:
Greece (Medical Working Group)
Mr. Pyrros Demetrios
Director of Medical Services National Centre for Emergency Care
EKAB President, WADEM
The World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine
Tel: +302107460202
Email:
Iceland
Mr. Kristinn Olafsson
Chief Executive, ICE-SAR
Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue
Skogarhlid 14, 105 Reykjavik
Iceland
Tel: +354 570 5900
Fax: +354 570 5901
Mobile: +354 8964 436
Email:
Mr. Hannes Sigurdsson
Member of Board
ICE-SAR, Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue
Skogarhlid 14, 105 Reykjavik
Iceland
Tel: + 354 570 59 00
Fax: +354 570 5901
Email:
IRO
Mr. Thomas Neckam
Assistant for Development and Training
International Rescue Dog Organisation
Moosstrasse 32
A-5020 Salzburg
Republic of Austria
Tel: +43 66 2826526/13
Fax: +43 66 2826526/20
Mobile: +43 66 4428 2231
Email:
Italy
Mr. Alessandro Pirrone
Advisor, Emergency Response Manager
General Directorate for Cooperation and Development
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Piazzale Farnesina 1, 00196 Rome
Italy
Tel: +39 06 3691 8153
Fax: +39 06 3691 4194
Mobile: +39 335 638 5919
Email: ,
Jordan
Mr. Aref Alshdaifat
Captain /Member in Jordan Search and Rescue Team
Jordan Civil Defence General Directorate
Alshmaisani - Queen Noor St., Amman 11118
Jordan
Tel: + 962 6566 1111 Ext. 4549
Fax: + 962 6569 3242
Email:
Mr. Atef Subhiyyin
1st lieutenant / Member in Jordan Search and Rescue Team
Jordan Civil Defence General Directorate
Alshmaisani - Queen Noor St., Amman11118
Jordan
Tel: + 962 6566 1111 Ext. 4549
Fax: + 962 6569 3242
Email:
Kazakhstan (Republic of)
Mr. Yuriy Burzhinskiy
Deputy of Chief of the Search and Rescue Team
MES of Kazakhstan
Almaty, of Kazakhstan
Tel: +87272 957410
Fax: +87272 957411
Email:
Kenya
Mr. Thomas Mocha
Fund Secretary
Ministry of State for Special Programmes
Office of the President
COM Craft HSE Haille Selafie Avenue
P.O. Box 40213-00100 GPO, Nairobi
Kenya
Lebanon
Mr. Houssam El Dine Dahrouj
Head of the Regional Station of South Mont Lebanon
Tel: +961 1 290024
Fax: +961 1 290022
Mr. Nabil Salhani
Head of Telecommunication Bureau
General Directorate of Civil Defence
Ain El Remaneh Area
Beyrouth, Lebanon
Tel: +961 1 290024
Fax: +961 1 290022
Mobile: +961 3 340889
Email: , ;
Malawi
Ms. Gift Try Mafuleka
Deputy National Coordinator
Department of Disaster Management Affairs
Private Bag 336
Lilongwe 3, Malawi
Tel: + 265 999 205 939
Fax: + 265 1789 142
Email:
Mali
Mr. Diawoye Konte
Expert National en Gestion des Catastrophes
Protection Civil Mali
Protection Civil Direction Generale
Bamako
BP E1537
Mali
Tel: + 2237 460 1517
Email: +
Montenegro
Ms. Kristina Palajsa-Backovic
Intertnational Cooperation Coordinator
Ministry of Interior and Public Administration
Sector for Emergency Management
Gavra Vukovića bb Podgorica 20000
Tel: + 382 679112007
Fax: + 382 20 227 325
Email:
Netherlands
Mr. Peter Bos
National Commander USAR NL
Ministry of home affairs Netherlands
Engelandlaan 374
The Netherlands
Tel: + 31629671551
Fax: + 3179-3304630
Email:
Mr. Jan Bron
Senior National Commader
Ministry of Home Affairs
Engelandlaan 374, PO BOX 7112
2701 AC Zoetermeer
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 79 33 04 604
Fax: +31 79 33 04 630
Email:
Ms. Yvonne Stilting
Senior Policy Maker
Ministry of Home Affairs
Engelandlaan 374, PO BOX 7112
2701 AC Zoetermeer
The Netherlands
Tel: + 31 629571551
Fax: + 31 793304630
Mobile: + 31 629571551
Email:
Norway
Mr. Orjan Nordhus Karlsson
Deputy Director General
Head of Department
International Relations
Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning
PO Box 2014
3103 Tonsberg
Norway
Tel: +47 33 412 500/412 727 (direct)
Fax: +47 33 310 680
Mobile: +47 95 998 991
Email:
Mr. Ove Syslak
Team Leader
NORSAR
Kneika 10
1923 Sorum
Norway
Tel: +47 638 250 70
Fax: +47 638 25089
Mobile: +47 952 07608
Email:
Poland
Maj. Mariusz Feltynowski
Deputy Head of the National Center for the Rescue Coordination and Protection of Population
The National Headquarters of the State Fire Service
Podchorazych Street 38
00463 Warsaw
Poland
Tel: +48 22 523 3085
Fax: +48 22 523 3003, +48 22 628 6575 (24 hrs)
Mobile: +48 691 521 929
Email:
Romania
Mr. Marius Dogeanu
Head of International Relations Derpartment
General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations
46, Banu Dumitrache str.,
Bucharest-, 2
Romania
Tel: + 40 21 232 95 86
Fax: + 40 21 232 95 86
Email:
Mr. Vladimir Secara
General Inspector
General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations
Bucarest
Romania
Fax: +40 21 242 0990
Email:
Russian Federation
Mr. Alexander Romanov
Head of Russian Airmobile Rescue Service
Russian Airmobile Rescue Service
Emercom of Russia.
12 Mendeleev
Street Zhukovsky, Moscow 140180
Russian Federation
Tel: + 7495 626 3754
Fax: +7 495 742 3556
Mobile: +7 915 132 6116
Email: ,
Mr. Mikhail Verzilin
Lt. General/Director of Fire and Rescue Department
Ministry of Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Response (EMERCOM of Russia)
3, Teatralny Proezd, 109012 Moscow
Russian Federation
Tel: + 7 495 626 37 85
Fax: + 7 495 624 84 10
Email:
Saudi Arabia
Mr. Sulaiman Alamr
Assistant of the General Director
Saudi Arabia Civil Defence
Postal Address:
P. O. Box 105938, Riyadh 11656
Saudi Arabia
Tel: +96612792246
Fax: +96612935010
Mobile: +966500154474
Email:
Mr. Ali Alquthami
Director of the Civilian Protection Directorate
Department: Ministry of Interior/ Civil Defence
Postal Address:
P. O. Box 22638, Riyadh 11416
Saudi Arabia
Tel: +96614645240
Fax: +96614627429
Mobile: +966569099994
Email: aliatallah-998 @hotmail.com
Col. Ali Omair Mashary Alshahrany
Head of Emergency Planning Department, Civil Protection Affairs
General Directorate of Civil Defence
P.O. Box 93279
11673 Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
Tel: +96614654174
Fax: +96614627429
Mobile: +966554411344
Email:
Mr. Ismael Badawi
Director of International Cooperation Dept.
Ministry of Interior /Civil Defence
Postal Address:
P. O. Box 63057, Riyadh 11516
Saudi Arabia
Tel: +96612792251
Fax: +96612792253
Mobile: +966505425504
Email:
South Africa
Mr. Jacques Du Plessis
International Liaison Officer
Rescue South Africa