The INSARAG is organised into the three regional groups: Africa/Europe/Middle East Region, Americas Region and Asia/Pacific Region. These Regional Groups meet annually to take measures to strengthen regional USAR response and ensure the strategic direction and policies from the INSARAG Steering Group are implemented and to assimilate relevant information from participating countries for submission to the INSARAG Steering  Group.

Regional Groups encourage the participation of all countries in their region and aim to provide a forum to discuss USAR related issues, regional cooperation and capacity building. One of the primary outcomes of these meetings is an annual regional work plan that addresses capacity building, training and other issues relevant to integrated approaches to disaster response. Each Regional Group has at least one Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, elected annually and sits on the INSARAG Steering Group.

For more details on regional events, such as exercises and meetings, visit the links to each region’s dedicated page.

INSARAG Global / Regionals Chairs

Funktion Country Name Position
Global Chair Swiss Incoming Global Chair Ambassador Dominik Stillhart Deputy Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Head of Humanitarian Aid Department and Head of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA)
AEME Regional Chair Romania Current Chair: Brigadier General Dogeanu Marius Head of Directorate General for Civil Protection Ministry of Internal Affairs, Romania
Czech Republic Incoming Chair: Lieutenant General Vladimir Vlcek Chief Fire Officer and representatives of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic (FRS CR), Czech Republic
Qatar Outgoing Chair: Colonel Staff Mubarak Sherida Al Kaabi Commander and Head of Qatar International Search and Rescue Group (QSART), Qatar
Americas Regional Chair Ecuador Current Chair: Mr. Jorge Carrillo Risk Management Secretary, Ecuador
Brazil Incomming Chair Mr. Jose Solla Coordinator General for Humanitarian Cooperation Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), Brazil
Mr. Wolnei Wolff National Secretariat for Protection and Civil Defence, Brazil
Argentina Outgoing Chair Ambassador Eduardo Porretti, President of the White Helmets Commission, Argentina
Asia-Pacific Regional Pakistan Current Chair Mr. Muhammad Idrees Policy Focal Point for the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Pakistan
Japan Incomming Chair Mr. Kazuki Matsubara Director of Humanitarian Assistance and Emergency Relief Division International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
New Zealand Outgoing Chair Mr. Paul Turner National Manager Response Capability Fire and Emergency, New Zealand

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