UAE honours search and rescue team for Myanmar mission

The UAE Search and Rescue Team have received a hero's welcome upon its return to the country after successfully completing a humanitarian mission in Myanmar's quake-hit areas.

A special ceremony was held to honour the team and its commander Colonel Muzaffar Mohammed Al Ameri for "saving lives and easing the suffering of those affected".

The team concluded search and rescue operations at six earthquake-hit sites, national news agency Wam reported.

The 7.7 magnitude quake on March 28 was one of the strongest to hit Myanmar in a century, jolting a region that is home to 28 million people, toppling buildings, flattening communities and leaving many without food, water and shelter.

The military government said 3,645 people were killed in the quake, with 5,017 injured and another 148 missing. Nearly 49,000 houses and more than 2,100 government buildings were destroyed.

The UAE team includes members from the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, Abu Dhabi Police, UAE National Guard and Joint Operations Command. 

The mission was carried out under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reinforcing the UAE’s principles of solidarity and rapid response to crises worldwide.

Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein expressed deep gratitude to the UAE for its swift response and effective humanitarian support.