QNA/Doha

The Search and Rescue Team of the Internal Security Forces Lekhwiya was awarded the ‘Heavy’ classification, the highest international classifications level after ‘Light’ and ‘Medium’, by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).
Lekhwiya is team No 45 in the world that gets this international recognition and officially operates under the umbrella of the United Nations.  
Commander of the VIP Protection Group Brigadier General Khalid bin Abdullah al-Hoti received the flag of the international body on behalf of Lekhwiya, while captain of the Search and Rescue Team Major Abdullah Eid al-Mohannadi received the official certificate and the INSARAG logo during an official ceremony held at the Civil Defence Officers Club in Doha.
In Lekhwiya’s statement on the occasion, Brigadier General Khalid bin Abdullah al-Hoti congratulated HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on the occasion. He also congratulated HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, and the Search and Rescue Team for the achievement.
He thanked the members of the team for their efforts and the hard work over the past years, and urged them to maintain their level of excellence and to develop it further for the better, calling them “Qatar’s message to humanity”.  
He also thanked everyone who contributed to receiving this recognition, the supervision and training team, and Director of the training and Courses management Brigadier Mahdi Metlaq al-Qahtani.  
Brig al-Hoti stressed the importance of developing the training and qualification system and to engage in work under the umbrella of the UN, noting that the current circumstances require vigilance and raising readiness, and more co-ordination among all workers in the humanitarian field.
He stressed that Lekhiwya was keen to prepare the team according to a scientific and professional framework, noting that it has trained in major local and international institutions, and has taken part in many international operations.  
INSARAG is a global network of more than 80 countries and organisations under the United Nations umbrella. INSARAG deals with urban search and rescue (USAR) related issues, aiming to establish minimum international standards for USAR teams and methodology for international co-ordination in earthquake response based on the INSARAG Guidelines endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/150 of 2002.