Channel NewsAsia - Monday,
January 21
SCDF contingent
certified by UN for urban rescue missions
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)s contingent is
the first in Asia to receive the highest certification to conduct
urban search and rescue missions.
SCDF officers from Operation Lionheart contingent officially
received the certification of "Heavy Urban Search and Rescue
capability" from the United Nations International Search and Rescue
Advisory Group (INSARAG).
INSARAG has identified three levels of urban search and rescue
classifications light, medium and heavy. These classifications
determine the capabilities of certified teams to conduct search and
rescue missions during natural crises and emergencies.
During 36 hours of gruelling assessment, the officers had to
demonstrate their rapid area reconnaissance as well as search and
rescue capabilities.
Operation Lionheart, which was deployed to help earthquake victims
in central Java in 2006, is the first Asian team to be certified,
and the eighth team worldwide.
The remaining seven certified teams are from Hungary, the United
Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands and Germany.
CNA/ac
