The National Fire Agency (NFA) was scheduled to present the "Indigenous Special Search and Rescue Team Establishment and Promotion Plan" at today's (9th) ministerial meeting at the Ministry of the Interior (MOI). Minister Liu Shyh-Fang said that the landslide dam disaster in Matai'an River was catastrophic in Guangfu Township, Hualien. The MOI will cooperate with the Council of Indigenous Peoples on the Indigenous Special Search and Rescue Team in high disaster potential areas of local tribes for better initial rescue capabilities.
Liu Shyh-Fang pointed out that most indigenous tribes are located in remote mountains. The transportation is poor and geology fragile. They often become isolated when disasters occur, and there is an urgent need to improve local disaster prevention and rescue capabilities. Therefore, the NFA, together with the Council of Indigenous Peoples and 12 local governments, including New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Chiayi County, Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County, Yilan County, Hualien County, and Taitung County, studied and applied the medium-term plan to establish the Indigenous Special Search and Rescue Teams, and provided subsidies for rescue training equipment, such as search and rescue helmets, rescue suits, military saws, throwing rescue equipment sets, and destruction equipment. As part of the plan, these teams will introduce existing training and equipment subsidies to help the Indigenous Special Search and Rescue Team acquire professional initial rescue capabilities.
In other counties and cities, such as the Alishan of Chiayi County, the foundation has been set for mountain search and rescue in the form of volunteer firefighters. They will continue to improve their capabilities and encourage local indigenous people to join, making it an indigenous Special Search and Rescue Team with regional characteristics. The landslide dam on the Matai'an River has taught us a harsh lesson. The NFA has called for a meeting with the Council of Indigenous Peoples and 12 local governments within a month to discuss and promote the direction of disaster prevention and mitigation, integrate central and local resources, and jointly build a more resilient tribal disaster prevention network.
Finally, Liu Shyh-Fang stated that in the future, all those who live in indigenous tribes are welcome to join the Indigenous Special Search and Rescue Team, obtain professional certification through training, and protect their homes together through self-help and mutual assistance during disasters.
