Congratulations to the AFA-2 Ankara USAR Türkiye Team (TUR-02) for successfully passing the INSARAG External Reclassification (IER) in Ankara, Türkiye between 13-17 October! This recognition affirms the exceptional skill and commitment to International Search and Rescue of the team. The INSARAG Secretariat extends its most sincere congratulations.
Congratulations to the USAR Thailand Team (THA-01) for successfully passing the INSARAG External Classification (IEC) in Bangkok, Thailand between 10-14 November! This recognition affirms the exceptional skill and commitment to International Search and Rescue of the team. The INSARAG Secretariat extends its most sincere congratulations.
The INSARAG Community Responder Training (CRT) was developed to provide guidance and training for first aiders on community level. Analysis of earthquakes have shown that the majority of successful rescues are done within the first hours by civilians – neighbors and family members – long before professional help can arrive. Thus, the CRT aims to build and develop local capacities within civil society to respond to incidents in areas where no organized USAR teams are (yet) present. In 2023 the ISG endorsed the Community Responder Training Package (back then under the name “First Responder Training 2.0”). The training covers the complete theoretical and practical standard curriculum of the INSARAG, focusing on disaster assessment and information gathering, formation of responder teams, task allocation within the teams, simple search and rescue operations, basic medical care, and reporting.
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq was one of five countries that has implemented the INSARAG Community Responder Training. An essential success factor is the careful localization of the training. Local trainers adapt the standardized content to the community-specific conditions—whether it is the local earthquake risk, typical types of disasters, regional building styles, or real examples from the area. This practical approach ensures that participants better understand the content and can directly apply the exercises in their daily lives.
From October 13 to 16, 2025, the Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC) held the Community Responder Training Week for the second time in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq with the support by the German Agency for Technical Relief (THW). During this event, five CRT courses took place simultaneously across the entire Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A total of 125 participants from civil society, including teachers, volunteers, and agency staff, were trained in Erbil, Sulaymaniah, Halabja, Dohuk, and Raparin. Already in November 2024, the training was conducted simultaneously at five locations in the region.
The training is fully organized and conducted by JCC. THW provides administrative support and, together with a representative from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, officially launched the event digitally. The training was mainly conducted by JCC master trainers supported by THW staff, who took part in the test-run of the CRT by THW in 2023 in Wesel, Germany. JCC has proven outstanding commitment furthering the trainings. Looking back, THW supported JCC conducting 43 Community Responder Trainings in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Up to today, around 1.000 Community Responders have been trained.
The Community Responder Training is a significant step toward better preparing the local population for potential crises, especially earthquakes. It is crucial for the protection and safety – not only of the communities in the Kurdistan Region Iraq. The CRT package can be downloaded here.
Congratulations to the Jordanian JSAR Team (JOR-01) for successfully passing the INSARAG External Reclassification (IER) in Amman, Jordan between 20-23 October! This recognition affirms the exceptional skill and commitment to International Search and Rescue of the team. The INSARAG Secretariat extends its most sincere congratulations.
Congratulations to the ‘Mobile Rescue Team Ukraine” Team (UKR-01) for successfully passing the INSARAG External Reclassification (IER) in Gdańsk, Poland between 02-06 September! This recognition affirms the exceptional skill and commitment to International Search and Rescue of the team. The INSARAG Secretariat extends its most sincere congratulations.
Mobile Rescue Team Ukraine – Social Media
Congratulations to the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Team (AUS-01) for successfully passing the INSARAG External Reclassification (IER) in Brisbane, Australia between 08-12 September! This recognition affirms the exceptional skill and commitment to International Search and Rescue of the team. The INSARAG Secretariat extends its most sincere congratulations.
6-7 OCTOBER | Prague, Czech Republic
USAR teams of the DACHL network (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg) regularly facilitate trainings for different USAR areas and invite international colleagues to participate. This year, the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) hosted an INSARAG Training of Trainers for USAR Coordination Courses (ToT UC Course) at THW’s Logistic Centre in Ulm, Germany from 31st August to 6th September 2025.
17 participants from different countries of the AEME region took part in the five-day course. The content was structured in three days of theoretical input and two days for the practical earthquake simulation. Additionally, a guided tour through the Logistic Centre and a visit to the local branch of Neu-Ulm gave insights into THW’s national capacities.
During the first two days, five experienced INSARAG trainers provided theoretical input according to the ToT UC Course training package: basics of instructing, communication skills, adult learning, and creating a positive learning environment. Furthermore, they covered information about GDACS, VOSOCC and ICMS.
On the third day, participants gave presentations, in which they were able to apply their presentation and communication skills. Throughout these days, methods and creative activities were included, that participants can use as an inspiration for their own future UC courses.
In the morning of the fourth day an additional media training was integrated, facilitated by THW media experts. Participants received theoretical instructions on how to effectively manage media interactions and engage with reporters during a deployment. Afterwards, the participants had the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice: The course proceeded with a practical UCC simulation of an earthquake in so called Etruria. Divided into two groups, one group acted as EXCON, while the other group took part in the simulation itself. The next morning, the groups’ tasks were switched. Within the exercise, participants were confronted with simulated media teams asking for information and an UNDAC-trained THW volunteer, providing opportunities for cooperation of different UN coordination components. This setup allowed all participants to practice effective exercise management in a realistic scenario.
The ToT UC course equipped its participants with valuable skills and comprehensive knowledge focused on training other trainers. By empowering trainers with this expertise, the program ensures a sustainable and multiplying effect – enabling trained instructors to effectively pass on their knowledge and methodologies to future UC courses. It strengthens the overall capacity and readiness of USAR Coordination, supporting INSARAG’s mission to save lives through efficient, well-coordinated USAR deployments worldwide.
By: Charlie Kuletzki and Daniela Glatz
Congratulations to the Belarus Republican Special Response Team (BLR-01) for successfully passing the INSARAG External Reclassification (IER) in Minsk/Borisov, Republic of Belarus between 11-15 August! This recognition affirms the exceptional skill and commitment to International Search and Rescue of the team. The INSARAG Secretariat extends its most sincere congratulations.
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