Creation date: 16 Jul 2012 Feedback: insarag@un.org www.insarag.org

Coordination Saves LivesINSARAG was established in December 1991. In the aftermath of the 1988 Armenia earthquake, 35 delegates from 15 countries and seven organizations recognized that an effective system of operational coordination was desperately needed in order to maximize the relief activities, work together to standard procedures, save time and save lives.

Common language for all international teamsThe first “INSARAG Guidelines and Methodology” publication was released in 1999. It guides international USAR teams and disaster-affected countries during international USAR response operations.

High-level recognitionThe United Nations General Assembly resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002, titled “Strengthening the Effectiveness and Coordination of International USAR Assistance”, endorses the INSARAG Guidelines as the principal reference for coordinating international USAR response.

INSARAG Hyogo DeclarationThe first global meeting of INSARAG was organized in 2010 and resulted in the INSARAG Hyogo Declaration. Recommendations on “Recognition and Strengthening of International Urban Search and Rescue Operational Standards” were unanimously agreed by 77 Member States and organizations. This declaration recognized the importance of national USAR capacity as a crucial part of INSARAG's mandate.

Beyond the RubbleThe role of USAR teams has expanded beyond the pure search-and-rescue phase. They also support the larger humanitarian relief operations when the USAR phase is over. This emphasizes INSARAG’s continued determination to improve professionalism in order to support different aspects of the humanitarian efforts.

Professional USAR support The INSARAG External Classification (IEC) system is designed to ensure that assisting countries send a team with the required skills and equipment, and that appropriate resources are assigned to the appropriate sites as soon as possible.

HeavyDeeply entombed

MediumVoid and confined space

LightLocal resources

For difficult and complex technical search-and- rescue operations.

For technical search- and-rescue operations in structural-collapse incidents.

Operational capability to assist with surface search and rescue in the

immediate aftermath of a disaster. Light USAR teams usually come from the

affected and neighbouring countries.

Minor injuries - lightly trapped

% of total USAR operations 35% 15% 30% 20%

1991INSARAGestablished

1999Guidelines

2002United NationsGA resolution

2005External

Classification

2010HyogoDeclaration

PresentMandate

Expansion

More than 200 participants from approximately 70 countries and six organizations participated in the first-ever INSARAG Global Meeting held in Kobe, Japan from 14 to 16 September 2010. © OCHA

INSARAG meeting in Austria during the early 1990s© AFDRU

Haiti earthquake 2010 © Dutch USAR team

INSARAG External Classification exercise in Russian Federation, 2011 © OCHA

INSARAGsecretariat

OCHA Geneva (FCSS)Regional Group

Africa/Europe/Middle East

Ad-hocworkinggroups

InternationalUSAR

team leaders

Regional GroupAmericas

Regionalantenna

Regional GroupAsia/Pacific

SteeringGroup

The Steering Group determines INSARAG policy.The secretariat organizes INSARAG events and coordinates international USAR response during emergencies.

The regional groups meet annually to exchange information, discuss methodology for cooperation, and make recommenda- tions to the Steering Group for improving international cooperation and coordination in disaster response.

The ad-hoc working groups develop solutions to issues identified by the requesting party. The international USAR team leaders meet annually to discuss technical issues relating to training and best practices from previous USAR operations and exercises.

Regional antenna in Tunisia to facilitate communication with North African and Middle East countries.

The International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) is a global network of more than 80 countries and organizations. It focuses on Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) issue under the United Nations umbrella. Members comprise earthquake-prone and response countries as well as governmental and non-governmental teams.