TİKA Holds Training To Improve Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Search and Rescue Capacity

33 search and rescue staff from Bosnia and Herzegovina received “Water Search and Rescue Advanced Training and Trainer Training” in Antalya within the scope of the Emergency and Disaster Intervention Training Program (ADAMEP) jointly organized by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Ministry of Security of Bosnia Herzegovina and IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation.  

33 search and rescue staff working in different regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in “Water Search and Rescue Advanced Training and Trainer Training” jointly organized by TİKA, the Ministry of Security of Bosnia Herzegovina and IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation within the scope of ADAMEP in Antalya to help Bosnia Herzegovina improve its capacity to respond to disasters and emergency.

The participants had already received the “Basic Water Search and Rescue Training” organized in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022. The second complementary and advanced training took 12 days. During the complementary program, the participants were given theoretical and applied training on scuba-diving, boat diving, surface water rescue, search techniques using feet, search with sounder at sea, giant stride, using surface water/underwater compass and natural navigation techniques, deep diving, wreck diving and night diving.

With this training, the participants completed the 9-module ADAMEP training consisting of search and rescue in nature, urban search and rescue and water search and rescue.

At the end of the training, the course participants were presented certificates at a ceremony organized at Erdem Bayazıt Culture Center. Dr. Onur Yaşar, a TİKA expert, Erdal Altıntaş, Coordinator at IHH Disaster Academy Coordinator, and representatives of public institutions and non-governmental organizations in Antalya attended the ceremony.

Erdal Altıntaş, Coordinator at IHH Disaster Academy, said that as a result of global warming and climate change, disasters have increased, and search and rescue trainings have become more important. Altıntaş indicated that they have gained considerable experience in search and rescue because of the disasters that hit Türkiye. He added that they share their experience with other countries upon demand through the modules developed jointly with TİKA. Altıntaş thanked TİKA for organization of the training program.

Dr. Onur Yaşar, the TİKA expert, said that TİKA is organizing several trainings in various subjects but the ones aimed at saving people’s lives are much more meaningful for them. Yaşar also stated that the search and rescue trainings for search and rescue staff in Bosnia and Herzegovina have come to an end with the last module on water search and rescue. He explained that the participants have now completed the advanced training and trainer training, adding that they are expecting the course participants to share the skills and knowledge they acquired throughout the trainings with their colleagues back in their country.  

Now the plan is to move on with ADAMEP trainings on search and rescue in nature, urban search and rescue and water search and rescue in the countries that need such trainings.