The Ministry of Interior’s search and rescue team is providing logistical support in Nepal as part of the international relief operation following the earthquake that killed 7,200 people and injured more than 14,000 others.
Lt Col Mohammed Al Ansari, head of the UAE SAR team and director general of Civil Defence in Abu Dhabi, said the mission provided medical services to patients and equipment to hospitals, as well as additional training to hard-pushed Nepalese doctors and nurses who must cope with the injured.
According to Al Ittihad, The National's Arabic-language sister paper, the UAE SAR's engineering group used drones to assess the condition of damaged buildings.
He said that the devices have been an essential part of the equipment used by the SAR team. They assist in offering a broad view of damaged sites to rescuers.
They also help to detect risks and identify the suitable entries and exits and provide rescue teams with data that cuts the risk in rescue operations to a minimum.
Lt Col Al Ansari said that the SAR team supported international efforts as well as those of Emirates Red Crescent, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Mohammed bin Rashid Charity and Humanitarian Establishment, and other government bodies.
He said that the initiative was part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to help victims of natural disasters around the world.
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