Oman rescue and search team to get global recognition

Muscat: A search and rescue team from the National Committee for Civil Defence (NCCD) of Oman is soon likely to get a go ahead to support other countries in rescue operations, according to Valerie Amos, United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Addressing media late on Monday afternoon at Crowne Plaza, the UN official said: "Oman is increasingly playing an important role to support the humanitarian affairs in the region and we would like them (Oman) to share its national expertise with other regions and across the world."

"Oman has also committed a lot of effort to build a strong national capacity to respond to natural disasters and shown its commitment to disaster preparedness through a comprehensive reorganisation of its disaster management and emergency response systems," pointed out Amos, who is here to strengthen Oman's multinational humanitarian partnership with Organisation for Charity and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

She indicated that the Omani search and rescue team at the NCCD will be soon certified internationally. "With the certification, Oman will be able to deploy the rescue team in disaster response scenarios across the world." "This will be a national team, coordinated to responses through the UN, under Oman's NCCD," the UN diplomat explained. "Oman has a wealth of experience to share with the international community, and OCHA is ready to support and facilitate any such exchange of information and knowledge," she reiterated.

In reply to a question, the UN Undersecretary ruled out any possibility of internally displaced people in Yemen crossing over to Oman. "They would usually cross the Saudi Arabian border."