Turkish experts train scouts for search and rescue in Thar Desert

KARACHI:

A week-long advanced search and rescue training programme conducted by Türkiye's state-run Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) for scouts concluded on Sunday.

The training, which aimed to train scouts to operate in disaster-hit areas, was held in the Karoonjhar Hills of the Thar Desert. The scouts trained in extremely hot outdoors with temperatures soaring to 39 degrees Celsius.

Over two dozen scouts attended the programme organised in cooperation with the Turkish NGO Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) and Sindh Boys Scouts Association (SBSA).

The programme concluded with a certificate ceremony held at the association's provincial headquarters in Karachi. The ceremony was attended by Turkish Consul General in Karachi Cemal Sangu, Provincial Commissioner of Sindh Scouts Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, TIKA's Karachi coordinator Halil Ibrahim Basaran, and volunteers who participated in the training.

Addressing the ceremony, Sangu congratulated TIKA and the participants for the successful training programme, which will help volunteers operate more effectively in the event of any natural or man-made disaster.

Shah said such collaborations will help SBSA build its own search and rescue training academy. Basaran, for his part, appreciated the volunteers and SBSA for their contribution to the successful completion of the training.

Ahmet Turkmenoglu, the chief trainer from IHH, said the volunteers showed an "extraordinary" performance despite harsh weather conditions.

Habib Uddin, a team leader from SBSA, expressed his gratitude, and said: "If we had received this training earlier, we could have saved more lives in previous disasters in Pakistan."

The second stage of the training program will continue with urban search and rescue training, as well as search and rescue training in water.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2024.