Agreement Signed to Improve Urban Search and Rescue

The Minister of Government, Ernesto Zelayandia, and the Disaster Reduction Specialist for the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/OFDA), Manual Santana, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to improve the capabilities for search and rescue of people affected by disasters in urban areas.

The Minister of Government, Ernesto Zelayandia, and the Disaster Reduction Specialist for the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/OFDA), Manual Santana, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between USAID/OFDA and the Ministry of Government on December 14, 2011. The goal of the agreement is to obtain accreditation for the National Urban Search and Rescue System of El Salvador in order to improve the capabilities for search and rescue of people affected by disasters in urban areas.

USAID/El Salvador has been in the forefront of disaster response and has provided effective assistance to Salvadorans across the country in a variety of disasters, including earthquakes, floods, and rockslides.