BY : Z.H.KARANI.
Karachi: The third phase of search and rescue training organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) as part of the Emergency and Disaster Response Training Program (ADAMEP), in collaboration with the IHH Humanitarian Aid Foundation Disaster Management and the Sindh Scouts Association (SBSA), took place in Karachi. The training program, which lasted one week and was attended by 30 search and rescue volunteers, was concluded with a closing and certificate distribution ceremony. The ceremony was attended by the Turkish Consul General in Karachi Cemal Sangu, Sindh Scouts Association Director Siddique Memon, TIKA Karachi Coordinator Halil Ibrahim Ba?aran, as well as representatives of the Pakistan Red Crescent and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, and many other guests.
In his speech at the closing ceremony, Consul General Sangu praised the admirable solidarity between the two nations, both with ancient histories, in addressing recent disasters. He also expressed great satisfaction with the collaboration between the institutions of both countries in preparing for potential future disasters.
Stating that Sindh Scouts have an important place in all kinds of disasters in Pakistan, Scouts Association Director Memon thanked Turkey and its institutions for their contribution to the disaster response efforts. Memon added that the trainers from Turkey deserve great appreciation for the motivation they provided to the search and rescue volunteers who participated in the training.
Highlighting the vital role of Sindh Scouts in addressing various disasters in Pakistan, Scouts Association Director Memon expressed gratitude to Turkey and its institutions for their contributions to disaster response efforts. Memon added that the trainers from Turkey deserve high appreciation for the motivation they instilled in the Search and rescue volunteers who participated in the training.
Emphasizing that sustainability and permanence are the most crucial aspects of TIKA projects, Karachi Coordinator Ba?aran noted that each phase of the training further enhanced the capabilities of Pakistani search and rescue teams in disaster response. He further mentioned that the training sessions would proceed without interruption.
Cihad Kaptan, IHH Disaster Management Training Coordinator, highlighted the benefits of joint disaster preparedness, given that both Pakistan and Turkey are located in natural disaster-prone regions. He expressed great satisfaction in observing that the volunteers participating in the training were aware of this.
Sarfaraz Sheikh, a search and rescue volunteer from the Alkhidmat Foundation who participated in the training, stated that the Foundation is continuously evolving and they had gained valuable knowledge from the training sessions organized by TIKA. He expressed enthusiasm, along with his teammates for the upcoming trainings.
Noor al Ain Mughal, the Women’s Team Leader of the Sindh Scouts Association, mentioned that the training was challenging due to the materials used. However, she expressed surprise at how easily they were able to lift the heavy equipment after gaining motivation. Noor al Ain, who attended the training from Sukkur, Pakistan, shared her excitement about bringing the knowledge and skills gained to volunteers in her own city.
As part of its Disaster Response Program, TIKA organized its third training session in Pakistan since 2023, with the participation of search and rescue volunteers from the Sindh Scouts Association and the Alkhidmat Foundation. TIKA, which also supplied the equipment used in the training, will continue with upcoming sessions, including Advanced Urban Search and Rescue Training and Water Search and Rescue Training.
