INSARAG

International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) was created in 1990 following the initiatives of the specialised international USAR Teams who operated together in the Mexican earthquake of 1985 and Armenian earthquake of 1988. 

INSARAG is a global network of more than 90 countries and organizations under the United Nations umbrella. 

INSARAG deals with urban search and rescue (USAR) related issues, aiming to establish minimum international standards for USAR teams and methodology for international coordination in earthquake response based on the INSARAG Guidelines endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/150 of 2002, on “Strengthening the Effectiveness and Coordination of International Urban Search and Rescue Assistance”.

As of the beginning of 2024, 62 teams have successfully passed external certification and obtained the status of certified in the INSARAG system.

INSARAG Vision and Role

INSARAG’s vision is to save lives by promoting efficiency, enhanced quality, and coordination amongst national and international USAR Teams on the basis of adherence to common guidelines and methodologies.

INSARAG’s role is to prepare for, mobilise and coordinate effective and principled international USAR assistance in support of an affected country in collapsed-structure emergencies and to support capacity- building at the international, regional, sub-regional and national level. INSARAG does this by:

• Developing and promoting common standards for USAR assistance, coordination methodologies and tools, and mobilisation and information exchange protocols between relevant stakeholders.
• Promoting cooperation and experience-sharing amongst, and in partnership with, Member States, NGOs, and national, regional and international partners.

Mandate of INSARAG

INSARAG is mandated by the INSARAG Steering Group (ISG) to:

• Operate in accordance with the Humanitarian Principles, which form the core of humanitarian action.
• Render emergency preparedness and response activities more effective and thereby save more lives, reduce suffering and minimise adverse consequences.
• Improve efficiency in cooperation among international USAR Teams working in collapsed structures at a disaster site, including by managing the IEC/R process.
• Рromote the strengthening of national USAR capacities and activities designed to improve search- and-rescue preparedness in disaster-prone countries, thereby prioritising developing countries, including by assisting Member States in setting up national USAR Team classification processes.
• Develop internationally accepted procedures and systems for sustained cooperation between national USAR Teams operating on the international level.
• Develop USAR procedures, guidelines and best practices, and strengthen cooperation between terested organisations during the emergency relief phase.

Cooperation with INSARAG

The Mobile Rescue Center joined the UN INSARAG system in 2009.

Created based on the Mobile Rescue Center of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine the governmental international search and rescue team MRC Ukraine is classified by INSARAG standards as a Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team.

The team members take an active part in INSARAG events, including:

• INSARAG Regional Meetings.
• INSARAG Team Leaders Meetings.
• Regional Earthquake Response Exercises.
• External INSARAG Classifications/Reclassifications of other USAR teams – as classifiers and/or observers.
• Training, courses, webinars, etc.