Community-level Swift Water Rescue training begins in Malwatu Oya, Mannar.

COLOMBO (News 1st):  The Asia-Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) Sri Lanka will be carrying out a Search and Rescue (SAR) Skill-Level basic training for the Village Disaster Management Committee (VDMC) members of Mannar and Mullaitivu Districts over the next week. The training will commence this weekend in two batches on location along the Malwatu Oya in Nanattan, Mannar. Raging floodwaters and landslides have become a staple in the lives of many Sri Lankans, who come face to face with the devastating effects of Climate Change a few times each year. The most recent floods in the country claimed some 25 lives, to drowning and landslides. ‘Swift Water’ drownings are not uncommon, but the numbers have come down drastically over the past several years, with experts pointing to disaster preparedness and response training carried out at the community level. This deep-dive training aims at sensitizing local communities and also providing them with basic SAR skills, in preparation for the increasing frequency of flood disasters. "The training program is being organized in terms of creating community resilience to disasters and these individuals who will be trained will be the first responders for the hazard-prone places," said A-PAD Country Director Firzan Hashim. He said that the selected group of people from the local community will be trained in essential skills for water-borne disasters and to ensure to secure the scene until help arrives. "This is a bridging gap before the professionals arrive on the scene," he said adding at the group will also be educated on preparedness, actual flood scenarios and they will be linked for other professional groups linked to Search and Rescue. The training will include Survival Swimming, Rope techniques, Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) and Community Survival Skills. Nationally certified SAR Instructors will conduct the programme, on location along the historic Malwatu Oya River.