Building USAR Capabilities Across Africa: PCPM and FIRETRACK at the First International USAR Conference in Africa

Representatives from dozens of African countries applauded Kenyan USAR rescuers during the first international conference dedicated to Urban Search and Rescue in Africa. The recognition was a tribute both to their rescue demonstration and to their commitment to real-life emergency response operations.

For some of the Kenyan rescuers, taking part in the conference meant moving almost directly from a rescue operation to the event in Mombasa. To reach the conference, they boarded an overnight train straight from Eastleigh, Nairobi, where a rescue operation was underway following a building collapse. They had been working in the rubble just hours earlier, and the following day they were demonstrating their skills before an international audience.

The First USAR Conference in Africa

From 2 to 6 November, PCPM and FIRETRACK took part in the first international conference dedicated to Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) in Africa. The event, organised in Mombasa by UN OCHA and Kenya’s National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), brought together representatives of rescue services, emergency management institutions and international organisations from dozens of African countries.

Sharing Experience and Strengthening Cooperation

During workshops led by international INSARAG experts, participants discussed the challenges involved in developing USAR capabilities, exchanged experiences and jointly explored future directions for cooperation. Participants were divided into four groups: three for countries in the early stages of developing their USAR capabilities and one for countries with an intermediate level of preparedness.

Kenya, Egypt and South Africa were placed in the intermediate-level group. These countries were able both to benefit from the experience of other participants and to share their own knowledge and practical expertise.

Developing Local Rescue Capabilities

For PCPM and FIRETRACK, Kenya’s presence in this group was a testament to years of work, training and investment in building local rescue capabilities. Specialist USAR operations, which include locating and rescuing people trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings, remain a relatively new and developing field in many African countries.

During the conference, PCPM and FIRETRACK also presented the capabilities of FIRETRACK – the Firefighters Training Centre in Kiambu. The centre has local training personnel, infrastructure and equipment that can support the development of rescue capabilities in other African countries as well.

Working Together for a Safer Future

The meeting in Mombasa also provided an opportunity to establish new partnerships, exchange expertise and strengthen cooperation between emergency services from different parts of Africa.

Behind every hour of training, every exercise and every piece of equipment provided are rescue workers who put their newly acquired skills into practice during emergency response operations, saving lives.