MUSCAT: The Omani Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, affiliated with the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, has been awarded the International Classification of “Heavy Level” by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) of the United Nations. This certification confirms the team’s high efficiency and ability to handle major emergencies, following a four-day evaluation period.
The classification reflects the high readiness of the Omani SAR Team and its ability to operate an integrated system that includes field management, technical search, emergency medicine and logistical support.
The team’s achievement of this accreditation represents an important addition to the national system for emergency management, which will contribute to raising the level of national readiness to confront various risks and to developing the capabilities of Omani cadres working in rescue, relief and disaster management fields.
The international evaluation programme included the execution of a number of field scenarios simulating natural disasters, such as building collapses and earthquakes. It tested the team’s ability to manage the incident site, search under rubble, provide emergency medical support, and operate the command and control system, in addition to assessing the level of coordination between technical and logistical support teams.
The raising of the SAR Team’s level from Medium to Heavy by INSARAG is one of the strategic projects planned to enhance response efficiency at the national level. Lt Col Mohammed bin Hamoud al Mahmoudi, Team Leader and Assistant Director-General of Operations and Training at the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, stated that this achievement comes after two years of intensive training and capacity building, noting that the team fulfilled all 172 international requirements. “The importance of this classification lies in enhancing our ability to save lives both inside and outside Oman and in gaining broader experience through upcoming international deployments,” he added.
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