New Delhi, Nov 03 (HS): Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx-2019) on Monday (4th November) at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai will be the chief guest for closing ceremony scheduled for 7th November.
On the initiative of Government of India, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is hosting “Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Joint Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue Exercise (SCOJtEx.)-2019” of all the 8 SCO member countries, with the aim to rehearse the disaster response mechanism, share knowledge, experience, technology and also for mutual coordination, etc. This exercise shall also provide an opportunity to enhance the coordination and co-operation involving multi-agency operations in an earthquake scenario.
The four day long simulation exercise shall be held from 4-7 November at Delhi. The participants of all 8 member countries namely China, India, Kazakhastan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan shall be participating in this exercise.
The four day long simulation exercise shall be conducted as per the International Search & Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) methodology and guidelines. There will be a Joint Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue Exercise for Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states followed by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization experts meeting of Ministries responsible for Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situation. During the exercise, role and responsibility of Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) at National and International Level, Emergency Medical Team (EMT), Humanitarian System/The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)/Emergency Response & Assessment Team (ERAT), On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC), Establishment of Emergency Operation Centre (EOC)/Integrated Command Post (ICP)/Response Cluster, Local Emergency Management Authority (LEMA) & Cluster Meetings, Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination (CM-Cord) will be discussed and practiced among the representatives from all 8 member nations.
The main focus of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx-2019) shall be to test the region’s preparedness and resilience towards effective activation of Inter- governmental interaction for immediate response.
Representatives from International Search & Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), Asian Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA), Brazil, Mongolia, South Africa have been invited as observers. Representatives from the embassies of all SCO member nations, heads of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and representatives of other stakeholders shall also be participating in this exercise.
