Bogota authorities, in coordination with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) in the Americas organized this important exercise with the object to evaluate the articulation of district, national and international systems of response in the event of a large scale earthquake.
This is the third time that INSARAG has organized such an exercise. Other similar experiences have taken place in Nepal and in Armenia in 2009. The highest level decision makers of the National System for Prevention and Response to Disasters, the United Nations country team, the Colombian Red Cross and national and international search and rescue teams participated in the exercise, designed to test the usage of protocols and procedures established pursuant to the INSARAG Guidelines.
The coordinator of the IDRL Project at the Colombian Red Cross participated as an observer in the exercise in order to assist in evaluating how existing procedures at the district, department, national and international levels interface in the request and receipt of international assistance, in particular search and rescue teams.
In addition, under the aegis of the United Nation’s “Disaster Management Team,” the IDRL project coordinator organized a small workshop on the IDRL Guidelines and the progress of the IDRL project in Colombia.