ISLAMABAD: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) conducted a five-day international course with the theme “Handling dead bodies with respect and identifying them in emergencies”.

Thirty-five emergency responders attended the course.

The participants were from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Egypt, England, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam.

On the last day of the course, a field exercise checked the readiness of participants when facing a mass casualty. During the half-day mock session, a power plant blast scene was recreated and the rescue and emergency workers were supposed to respond keeping in view the standard procedures and best practices.

The annual course, pioneered in Pakistan, is in its third year and is growing in global popularity.—PR