7-Nov-2019: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai graces the concluding session
A four-day joint exercise on urban earthquake search and rescue of the member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, organised by NDRF, concluded in New Delhi. All the member countries of SCO viz. China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in this exercise, Mongolia participated as an observer. In addition representatives from INSARAG, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO and SDRF also participated in this simulation exercise. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai, was the chief guest at the concluding session.
During the exercise held from November 4-7, participants from SCO member countries shared preparations, coordination during disaster and internationally recognized procedures during joint search and rescue exercises in a large urban earthquake environment. In addition, best practices were also shared among the participants of the Member States to strengthen regional response system, mutual cooperation and coordination.
Addressing the participants at the valedictory function, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Government of India, Shri Nityanand Rai said that the Government is sensitive to disaster management and is active at all levels. He added that the subject of disaster management is close to the heart of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and the Prime Minister has continually emphasized on the importance of reducing and mitigating disaster risk not only at the national but also at the global level. Shri Rai said that the ten points put forth by the Prime Minister on the subject of Disaster Management serve as guiding principles on the subject.
Appreciating the active participation of the participants of the member countries in the exercise, the Hon'ble Minister said that organizing such exercises will boost our process and standardization and strengthen the response efficiency. Concluding his remarks, Shri Rai said that Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah raised several important points in his speech on the inaugural day, and expressed happiness that the exercise had been successful in addressing all the points mentioned by Shri Shah.
Members, NDMA, Lieutenant General, NC Marwah, (Retired), PVSM, AVSM; Joint Secretary (Disaster Management), Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Sanjeev Kumar Jindal and Director General, National Disaster Response Force Shri Satyendra Pradhan also addressed the participants. He appreciated the active participation of the rescue teams of all member states.
As part of the next phase of this exercise, a meeting of experts from the ministries responsible for the prevention and liquidation of the emergency is being organized, the next day i.e. the 10th meeting of the Heads of Disaster Prevention Departments of SCO member states on 08 November 2019. Will also be organized in New Delhi.
4-Nov-2019: Shri Amit Shah inaugurates the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx)-2019 in New Delhi
The Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx)-2019 in New Delhi. The Exercise is being organized by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from November 4-7, 2019. The exercise is the outcome of 9th Meeting of the Heads of Government Departments of SCO countries dealing with the prevention and elimination of emergency situations in Kyrgyzstan during 2017, in which India offered to organize the next Annual Disaster Management Exercise for the region.
Addressing on the occasion, the Home Minister extended warm greetings to all delegates from the SCO Nations that have come together to participate in the joint exercise. He said that their presence for this exercise represents their governments’ passion and commitment to make this exercise a success. He informed that India attaches special importance to SCO as an excellent platform for synergizing the efforts of all member States in the field of multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interaction in the region. He also noted that SCO has emerged as an international organization as it represents 40 % of global population, 20 % of global GDP and 22% of the global geographical area.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave 'HEALTH' mantra for SCO Members for cooperation in 6 areas. He called for strengthening mutual cooperation on issues in six areas which are Healthcare cooperation, Economic Cooperation, Alternate Energy, Literature and Culture, Terrorism-Free Society and Humanitarian Cooperation.
Bringing the importance of this joint exercise in perspective, the Home Minister said that during 1996-2015, more than 3 lakh people have lost their lives due to natural calamities. Earthquakes have taken more than 2 lakh lives, which account for two-thirds of disaster related mortality in SCO countries. In this background, this joint exercise will be very useful for improving the collective preparedness & building a common understanding of internationally recognized procedures to co-ordinate post-earthquake responses. He further added that this joint exercise with SCO member states will be helpful in developing personal understanding amongst counterpart teams when they will work together to tackle any disaster situation.
Establishing the centrality of SCO Nations in tackling disasters, Shri Shah said that none of the global targets on reducing disaster losses- whether they are enshrined in the Sendai Framework or Sustainable Development Goals -can be met by 2030, unless achieved by the SCO countries. International cooperation in this area is, therefore very important, he emphasized.
Speaking on India’s efforts in this direction, Home Minister said that we are making concerted efforts for strengthening our response capabilities and taking focused steps. Our National Disaster Management Plan was launched in 2016. All our 28 States, 09 Union Territory and 90% of our districts have completed their disaster management plan. Now, efforts are on to revise this National Plan which has taken in to consideration not only the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction but the Sustainable Development Goals and Agreement on climate change also, he added.
Highlighting the India’s effort to reduce preventable deaths and other losses from disaster, Home Minister cited the example of India’s effective handling of Phaillin, Hudhud and Fani in the recent past and said that this was the direct outcome of a series of policy initiatives and enhancement of early warning capabilities, advance preparation, training and capacity development. During the cyclone Fani, loss of lives was reduced to 64 persons compared to 10,000 lives in the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone. In the other words, in a little over a decade, India has been able to reduce the loss of lives to less than 1% in the comparisons to that of past.
Talking about India’s focus on disaster resilient infrastructure to minimize deaths, Shri Shah informed that India is championing a Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which will be multi-hazard oriented and will also help in minimizing the losses to property and infrastructure. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched this Coalition during the UN Climate Summit in New York. This global Coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure would address concerns that are common to developing and developed countries, small and large economies and countries that have moderate or high risk. Focus on disaster resilient infrastructure would simultaneously address the loss reduction targets under the Sendai framework, address a number of SDGs and also contribute to climate change adaptation, he added.
Shri Shah also highlighted that India has established the Tsunami Early Warning System for the Indian Ocean RIM countries. India has launched the South Asia Geostationary Communication Satellite to improve communication, weather forecasting, etc. among the South Asian countries. He underlined that after Gujarat Earthquake-2001, the ‘Owner Driven Reconstruction for Housing’ was first implemented in Gujarat which has now been adopted by many countries after the Indian Ocean Tsunami and in Nepal after the 2015 Nepal Earthquake. Today, this project has become a globally accepted model for housing construction after a disaster, he added.
The Home Minister further said that during the Nepal Earthquake in 2015, Government of India launched ‘Operation Maitri’ and provided all types of support to Nepal including rescue, relief and reconstruction activities in the affected areas. Considering the importance of reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, India committed assistance of US $ 1 billion for this purpose. He expressed hope that over next few days besides focusing on joint exercise, delegations will have the opportunity to share their country’s experience and acquire the skills of others as well.
During this four day long simulation exercise, there will be a Joint Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue Exercise for SCO member states, SCO experts meeting of Ministries responsible for Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situation, followed by 10th Meeting of Heads of Departments of Disaster Prevention of SCO member States.
2-Nov-2019: Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah to inaugurate SCO Joint Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue Exercise (SCOJTEX)-2019
Union Minister of Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah will inaugurate the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue (SCOJtEx-2019) on 04th November, 2019 at 1500 Hrs. at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai will be the chief guest for closing ceremony scheduled for 07th November, 2019.
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 08 SCO member countries, with the aim to rehearse the disaster response mechanism, share knowledge, experience, technology & also for mutual coordination, etc. This exercise shall also provide an opportunity to enhance the coordination & co-operation involving multi-agency operations in an earthquake scenario.
The four day long simulation exercise shall be held from 4-7 November, 2019 at Delhi. The participants of all 08 member countries namely China, India, Kazakhstan, 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 & 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 & responsibility of Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) at National & 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.
Besides above, 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.