Volunteer search and rescue team is the highlight of FOCUS eve

FOCUS provides emergency relief to communities suffering from natural disasters or man-made crises. Photo: Samir Bharwani

In May, Focus Humanitarian Assistance celebrated its 15th anniversary with An Evening with Focus, held at the Ismaili Centre, London. The event created awareness of the integral role that FOCUS and its volunteers play in communities around the world.

An affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network, FOCUS aims to foster disaster-resilience in communities that are particularly vulnerable to natural and man-made disaster. It also extends humanitarian relief and recovery in the wake of disasters.

Approximately 250 people attended the event, and 180 people, from 18 different countries, watched it live over the internet. The evening included four presentations, each portraying a unique aspect of FOCUS' work.

Members of the SART team address the audience. Photo: Abdul Khakoo

The Executive Officer of FOCUS in Tajikistan, Mustafa Karim, demonstrated how the work of FOCUS and its volunteers has benefited tens of thousands residing in the isolated mountainous areas of Central Asia. FOCUS has enhanced capacity in the areas of awareness, preparedness and disaster risk reduction, and has disseminated crucial knowledge and skills to local communities to reduce their vulnerabilities.

Illustrating the importance of professional volunteers, Dr Salim Sumar, the Executive Officer of FOCUS Europe, talked about the work of the European unit's Search and Rescue Team (SART).

Consisting of eight members who have been training since July 2007, SART is able to respond rapidly and effectively in the event of a natural or man-made disaster anywhere in the world. Each team member volunteers their time for training and future deployments.

Some of the specialist equipment that the SART team is trained to use in their operations. Photo: Samir Bharwani

The SART members' presentation was the highlight of the evening. During the past two years, the team was trained by RAPID UK (Rescue and Preparedness In Disasters). An NGO accredited by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group of the United Nations, RAPID UK is also part of the British government's Department for International Development Response team.

FOCUS SART underwent intensive training for one weekend every month for 24 months. Their training incorporated a range of real-life disaster conditions such as cold and wet weather, operating with minimal amounts of food and sleep, working at heights as well as in confined spaces. The group was trained to support each other, to cope with high levels of stress and to use highly specialised technical equipment. They are prepared to respond globally to riots and civil unrest, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, and other natural or man-made disasters.

In addition to search and rescue procedures, the group has been trained to react in dangerous and hostile environments. They learnt about base camp procedures, communications, logistics, first aid and undertook specialist courses such as swift water rescue. Most importantly, the SART is able to support and complement other international search and rescue teams, and assist in training teams globally.

The SART team is joined by the Chairman of the FOCUS International Coordinating Committee as well as the Chairman, Executive Officer and a Programme Officer from FOCUS Europe. Photo: Samir Bharwani

The SART's final assessment took place over five days in June and they were evaluated on their performance under a variety of realistic simulations. The team is now fully operational and is highly trained and equipped to support countries affected by disasters globally. The European SART and the SART established by FOCUS Pakistan can now serve communities world-wide in the event of a disaster.

Members from RAPID UK were also present at An Evening with Focus in order to show their support for the SART. After the presentations, SART and RAPID UK demonstrated how to use some of their specialist equipment such as a thermal imaging camera; a vibraphone; and snake high camera.

The evening concluded with a brief presentation by Aziz Bhaloo, Chairman of the Focus International Coordinating Committee, who spoke on FOCUS' past, present and future endeavours.

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Readers wishing to support FOCUS' work, are invited to apply for the next FOCUS Hike4Life, which will take place from 25 December 2009 – 3 January 2010 in Uganda. For more details, please visit www.focuschallenge.org.