International collaboration

A close friendship has existed between the BRH Bundesverband Rettungshunde e.V. and Taiwan for 17 years. The international delegation of the BRH provided rescue assistance to the people there following a severe earthquake in 1999. Since then, Peter Göttert, BRH State Representative for Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, has maintained contact with Asia. In the year 2000, the city of Taipei formed its own team within the professional fire and rescue services. Four of these fire and rescue team members were hosted by the BRH. They arrived with two rescue dogs to learn new methods taught as part of rescue dog training, and to expand on their existing skills in joint training sessions. The BRH teams of Unterland and Pforzheim are also providing active support to the further education and training programme.   Another training session was held at the training base located in Weeze (North Rhine-Westphalia) where emergency relief efforts in post-disaster remains and rubble can be simulated.

Taiwan is located in a region that experiences repeated earthquakes. When disaster strikes a quick response is required, meaning that the BRH provides support to the relief services on the ground with its expertise and, in some cases, materials. Professionals refer to this type of assistance as capacity building.