Elliniki Omada Diasosis

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The Elliniki Omada Diasosis ( Greek Ελληνική Ομάδα Διασώσις Ε.Ο.Δ. English Hellenic Rescue Team , HRT) is a Greek search and rescue service . The non-governmental organization founded in 1978 has had the form of an association since 1994 . The Elliniki Omada Diasosis cooperates with the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection and the European Union . The HRT was awarded the Nansen Refugee Prize in 2016.

history

The Elliniki Omada Diasosis was founded in 1978 and has been in the form of an association since 1994. The organization is recognized by the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection and since 2005 by the UN organization INSARAG as the only international rescue organization in Greece.

tasks

The HRT is an association of volunteers who have committed to help in the following situations:

  • Help in emergencies and disasters such as earthquakes; the rescue of individuals or groups in distress (snow, floods, forest fires); the implementation of search operations for missing and casualties, especially in mountainous regions or sea areas
  • Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, avalanches)
  • Disasters (forest fires, accidents)
  • Crises (wars and their consequences)
  • in any other extraordinary situation, comparable to natural or anthropogenic disasters

Goal setting

One of the main goals is to support the community. That happens through risk prevention, first aid, life support and training. The HRT carries out rescues in Greece and abroad. HRT also provides food or other help in an emergency to help with reconstruction. In developing countries, the organization is also committed to economic and social development. The HRT works with local partners and the local population. The HRT conducts research in the field of the further technical development of search and rescue equipment, in the development of innovative methods, products or processes as well as medical support in emergency operations. The association also provides social services, assistance and financial aid for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities. The Elliniki Omada Diasosis wants to strengthen the importance and participation of volunteering in the population. Any form of support is provided regardless of ethical, religious, economic or social background.

Services

Syrian and Iraqi refugees at Skala Sykamias on Lesbos

Elliniki Omada Diasosis works in mountain and sea ​​rescue with around 2,500 volunteers at 31 locations across Greece. The head office is in Thessaloniki . During the height of the Greek refugee crisis in 2014 and 2015, helpers from the islands of Lesbos, Samos and Kos rescued 2,500 people and brought 7,000 to safety in 1,035 rescue operations. The association worked with the Greek Air Force , Coast Guard , Fire Brigade and Civil Protection Service .

Cooperations

Elliniki Omada Diasosis works with the United Nations for the coordination of humanitarian aid ( OCHA ), with the Agency for International Cooperation of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with the European Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

There is close cooperation with related organizations in other countries. In addition to the exchange of experiences, joint training courses take place. ANENA from France trains avalanche accident rescue measures and rescue by helicopter here; the colleagues from Serbia train the behavior on ski patrols.

The organization is a member of the international mountain rescue service IKAR and the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF).

Volunteer Recruitment

The HRT recruits volunteers by holding annual trainings. These take place over several weeks. In them, the volunteers are taught how to provide mountain and sea rescue, first aid and aid in the event of natural disasters. The HRT was very popular during the refugee crisis.

Awards

  • 2016: Nansen refugee award for saving 2,500 people during the 2015 refugee crisis.
  • 2017: Mother Teresa Prize of the Indian Harmony Foundation for the rescue work done during the refugee crisis.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Ε.Ο.Δ. (Greek)
  2. ↑ a b Heeding cries for help lands Hellenic Rescue Team 2016 Nansen Award ( English ) In: UNHCR . September 6, 2016. Accessed July 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ http://www.anena.org
  4. ↑ IMRF, Full Members
  5. ↑ Tasos Kokkinides: Hellenic Rescue Team to Receive Mother Teresa Award . Greek Reporter, October 26, 2017, accessed August 24, 2018