INSARAG_Guidelines-2012_ENG-_Read_version

A PREFACE
A1 Introduction
1. The Field Coordination Support Section (FCSS) of UN OCHA, which is the seat
of the INSARAG Secretariat, has facilitated the development of the INSARAG
Guidelines by the member States and organisations of INSARAG. The
Guidelines are intended as a reference guide for international urban search and
rescue (USAR) operations for countries aiming to establish USAR capacity, as
well as for established USAR teams. Furthermore, the Guidelines are not an
authoritative instruction but rather detailed recommendations based on an
accumulation of institutional memory and experience related to international
USAR response as seen in the scope of the INSARAG mandate. The use of the
INSARAG Guidelines has been endorsed by the UN General Assembly
Resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 ―Strengthening the Effectiveness and
Coordination of international USAR assistance‖.
2. The INSARAG Guidelines have been developed in cooperation between
numerous actors who have gained invaluable experience in developing
domestic USAR capability, responding to major domestic USAR incidents and
responding to international USAR incidents. Lessons learned from these efforts
resulted in the development of the INSARAG Guidelines and Methodology,
which will continue to evolve as experience is gained from future disaster
response and preparedness exercises.
A2 Background
1. INSARAG was formed in 1991, as a cooperative effort by countries that are
either prone to earthquakes or disasters that may cause structural collapse, or
countries and organisations that are providers of international USAR
assistance, the UN, IFRC and other international responders.
2. The INSARAG Mandate entails the development of effective international
USAR procedures and operational standards, implementation of UN General
Assembly Resolution 57/150 of 22 December 2002 on ―Strengthening the
effectiveness and coordination of USAR assistance‖, improving cooperation and
coordination amongst international USAR teams at disaster sites, promoting
activities to improve USAR preparedness in disaster prone countries,
INSARAG Guidelines April 2012
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