PM praises Lekhwiya’s Search and Rescue Team

HE the Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Commander of Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani honouring the Search and Rescue Team.

QNA/Doha

HE the Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Commander of Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani called on the Search and Rescue Team to make more efforts in order to maintain the achievements made during the past period.
During a meeting with the Search and Rescue Team at the Lekhwiya’s  premises, the Prime Minister congratulated the Team for receiving “Heavy” classification by the UN’s International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).
He pointed that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is the one who initiated the idea and gave directives to establish the Search and Rescue Team in 2004 to meet the requirements of Qatar and the needs of the Asian Games 2006.
The Prime Minister stressed that receiving the INSARAG classification was not by chance, but rather was the result of strenuous efforts and arduous training. “Serving homeland is the most important priority, we need a team that meets the need of the nation in times of emergency,” he said.
He reminded that when the Search and Rescue Team was established in 2004, it comprised 40 privates and three officers. Now the team comprises 150 officers, non-commissioned officers (NCO) and privates.
This Team is one of Qatar’s contributions to the humanitarian work worldwide, he said calling on the team’s members to carry this responsibility and to become a role model to those who would join it in the future.  
Head of Search and Rescue Team Major Abdullah Eid al-Mohannadi said that the Search and Rescue Team’s achievements would not have been possible without HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, whose continued guidance encouraged members of the Team to do their best and achieve such classification.
Al-Mohannadi added that the national Search and Rescue Team’s achievements were hailed by all, adding that they represent and add to numerous Qatari achievements in international forums.
The Search and Rescue Team was created in 2004 to undertake major and vital search and rescue missions, inside the State of Qatar and abroad. Its tasks and mandate include air, sea and land rescue operations. The Team conducted 45 search and rescue operations in a number of countries around the world.