Overseas Missions
Source: https://www.scdf.gov.sg/home/about-scdf/international-engagement/overseas-missions
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:20
Overseas Missions
Government officials will NEVER ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call. Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 if you are unsure if something is a scam. For details, visit the
ScamShield website
.
To help businesses reduce regulatory compliance costs, SCDF will implement three-year Fire Certificate (FC) validity periods for renewal applications from 1 Apr 2026 onwards. Please refer to the
SCDF Fire Certificate
webpage for more information.
The Civil Defence Heritage Gallery and Emergency Preparedness Centre will reopen to the public from 21 Apr 2026. The weekly Saturday morning Fire Station Open House will also be resumed with effect from 25 Apr 2026.
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Overseas Missions
Operation Lionheart
The SCDF is the first organisation in the Asia-Pacific region to be classified as a Heavy Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) Team by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) in 2008. This Heavy USAR Team classification is the highest level
of recognition that can be accorded to USAR Teams by the United Nations. This seal of approval allows disaster affected countries to regard SCDF's USAR capabilities favourably when prioritising acceptance of international response support.
The SCDF maintains a dedicated 80-member contingent on standby round-the-clock. Codenamed Operation Lionheart, the core function is to provide urban search and rescue and/or humanitarian relief assistance to countries afflicted by major disasters.
The Operation Lionheart contingent comprises rescuers from the SCDF's elite Disaster Assistance & Rescue Team (DART) and from the frontline units including Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) men. Our rescuers are equipped with specialised
equipment like life detecting devices and lifting and cutting tools to aid them in such missions. DART is highly trained in urban search and rescue, height rescue, medical trauma incidents, water search and rescue, heli-bucket operations, to name
a few. Besides rescuers, the contingent also consists of search dogs and technical experts such as civil engineers and doctors who specialise in trauma and emergency medicine.
Since the formation of this contingent in 1990, it had been deployed throughout the Asia-Pacific region to render humanitarian assistance to countries hit by major disasters.
Below is the list of Operation Lionheart missions since 1990. Click on the available links below to read more about the missions:
S/no
Mission / Location
Date
1.
Baguio City earthquake, Philippines
Jul 1990
2.
Highland Towers collapse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Dec 1993
3.
Tai Chung County earthquake in Taiwan
Sep 1999
4.
Asian Tsunami Disaster, Aceh, Indonesia
Dec 2004
5.
Asian Tsunami Disaster, Khao Lak, Thailand
Dec 2004
6.
Sumatra Earthquake, Nias Island, Indonesia
Mar 2005
7.
Rokan Hilir Bush Fires, Sumatra, Indonesia
Aug 2005
8.
South Asian Earthquake, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
Oct 2005
9.
Central Java Earthquake, Indonesia
May 2006
10.
Sichuan Earthquake, China
May 2008
11.
Padang City Earthquake, Sumatra, Indonesia
Oct 2009
12.
Christchurch Earthquake, New Zealand
Feb 2011
13.
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Mar 2011
14.
Flood, Kelantan, Malaysia
Dec 2014
15.
Forest Fire, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Mar 2015
16.
Nepal Earthquake, Kathmandu, Nepal
Apr 2015
17.
Forest Fire, Palembang, Indonesia
Oct 2015
18.
Flooding at Attapeu Province, Laos PDR
Aug 2018
19.
Flood at New South Wales, Australia
Nov 2022
20.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Feb 2023
21.
Earthquake, Naypyidaw, Myanmar
Mar 2025
ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT)
The ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) is a rapid deployable response team that supports affected ASEAN Member States during major disasters. Within 24 hours upon request from the affected ASEAN Member State(s), ASEAN-ERAT can be mobilised to support in the initial phase of a major disaster. SCDF currently has a pool of trained officers who can be activated on short notice for an ASEAN-ERAT deployment.
To become an ASEAN-ERAT member, each officer has to complete a 100-hour ERAT induction course and trained in standardised methodologies and skills in rapid assessments, logistics, information management, on-site coordination and emergency communications.
United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)
The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) is part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies. UNDAC was created in 1993. It is designed to help the United Nations and governments of disaster-affected
countries during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency. UNDAC also assists in the coordination of incoming international relief at a national level and/or at the site of the emergency.
UNDAC teams can deploy at short notice (12-48 hours) anywhere in the world. There is no charge imposed to the disaster-affected country, and UNDAC teams are deployed upon the request of the United Nations Resident or Humanitarian Coordinator and/or the
affected Government.
Assessment, coordination and information management are UNDAC's core mandates in an emergency response mission. Specifically in response to earthquakes, UNDAC teams set up and manage the On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) to help coordinate
international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams responding to the disaster - essential if USAR assistance is to function effectively. This concept was strongly endorsed in United Nations General Assembly resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002, on
“Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance”.
The UNDAC system comprises four components:
Staff
: Experienced emergency managers made available for UNDAC missions by their respective governments or organizations. UNDAC members are specially trained and equipped for their task;
Methodology
: Pre-defined methods for establishing coordination structures, and for organising and facilitating assessments and information management during the first phase of a sudden-onset disaster or emergency;
Procedures
: Proven systems to mobilize and deploy an UNDAC team to arrive at the disaster or emergency site within 12-48 hours of the request;
Equipment
: Personal and mission equipment for UNDAC teams to be self-sufficient in the field when deployed for disasters/emergencies.
Below is the list of ASEAN-ERAT / UNDAC deployments by SCDF:
S/no
Mission / Location
Date
ASEAN-ERAT / UNDAC
1.
Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar:
1 SCDF officer was first deployed as a member to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, to support and coordinate the relief efforts following Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. This was followed by the first
ASEAN ERAT mission for Post Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA).
5 May 2008
UNDAC and ERAT
2.
Mentawai Islands Tsunami:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as part of a four-member ERAT team to support the Government of Indonesia in rapid assessment efforts and identify immediate needs and gaps in the affected areas.
25 Oct 2010
ERAT
3.
Bangkok Floods:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as Team Leader to lead an ERAT 8-member team from various ASEAN member states to conduct rapid assessment for immediate relief needs of the flood affected people in Thailand
15 Oct 2011
ERAT
4.
Aceh Earthquake:
2 SCDF ERAT members deployed to support the disaster management efforts of the Government of Indonesia in response to the earthquake in Pidie Jaya, Aceh
8 Dec 2016
ERAT
5.
Needs assessment in Myanmar:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as Team Leader to lead an ERAT 2-member team to support the Government of Myanmar in rapid assessment efforts and identify immediate needs and gaps in the affected areas.
15 Jan 2018
ERAT
6.
Yangon Dumpsite fire:
2 SCDF ERAT members deployed to support the Government of Myanmar to conduct assessment and provide technical advice
28 Apr 2018
ERAT
7.
Lombok Earthquake:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as part of a four-member ERAT team to support the Government of Indonesia in rapid assessment efforts.
8 Aug 2018
ERAT
8.
Palu Earthquake:
5 SCDF ERAT members out of the 28 total ERAT deployed to support the government of Indonesia in assessment and coordination of international aid. This is the largest and longest ERAT deployment, to date.
29 Sep 2018
ERAT
9.
Preliminary Needs Assessment in Rakhine:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as Assistant Team Leader for the ASEAN-ERAT team to support the Government of Myanmar in rapid assessment efforts and identify immediate needs and gaps in the affected areas.
4 Mar 2019
ERAT
10.
Assessment in Cox's Bazaar in support of Myanmar Govt:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as member of the ASEAN-ERAT team to support a Myanmar Delegation in their high-level visit to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
16 Dec 2019
ERAT
11.
ASEAN Joint Needs Assessment in Myanmar:
2 SCDF ASEAN-ERAT members were deployed in support of the ASEAN Joint Needs Assessment in Myanmar.
30 May 2022
ERAT
12.
Tropical Cyclone Nalgae:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as member of the ASEAN-ERAT team to support the needs assessment following the Tropical Cyclone Nalgae in the Philippines.
6 Nov 2022
ERAT
13.
Cyclone Mocha:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as member of the ASEAN-ERAT team to support the rapid needs assessment following Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar.
18 May 2023
ERAT
14.
Myanmar Earthquake (UNDAC & ERAT):
Three SCDF ERAT members deployed as members of the ASEAN-ERAT team to support the Government of Myanmar in disaster management efforts for the assessment and coordination of international aid. An additional SCDF officer was also deployed as part of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team in support of the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs' deployment to the Myanmar Earthquake.
29 Mar 2025
UNDAC & ERAT
Government officials will NEVER ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call. Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 if you are unsure if something is a scam. For details, visit the
ScamShield website
.
To help businesses reduce regulatory compliance costs, SCDF will implement three-year Fire Certificate (FC) validity periods for renewal applications from 1 Apr 2026 onwards. Please refer to the
SCDF Fire Certificate
webpage for more information.
The Civil Defence Heritage Gallery and Emergency Preparedness Centre will reopen to the public from 21 Apr 2026. The weekly Saturday morning Fire Station Open House will also be resumed with effect from 25 Apr 2026.
1
/
3
Our Organisation
Corporate Philosophy
International Engagement
Emergency Medical Services
Courses & Seminars
Media Room
SCDF Lifesavers Hall of Fame
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
SCDF's Transformation
Hero banner for all pages except home page
Overseas Missions
Operation Lionheart
The SCDF is the first organisation in the Asia-Pacific region to be classified as a Heavy Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) Team by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) in 2008. This Heavy USAR Team classification is the highest level
of recognition that can be accorded to USAR Teams by the United Nations. This seal of approval allows disaster affected countries to regard SCDF's USAR capabilities favourably when prioritising acceptance of international response support.
The SCDF maintains a dedicated 80-member contingent on standby round-the-clock. Codenamed Operation Lionheart, the core function is to provide urban search and rescue and/or humanitarian relief assistance to countries afflicted by major disasters.
The Operation Lionheart contingent comprises rescuers from the SCDF's elite Disaster Assistance & Rescue Team (DART) and from the frontline units including Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) men. Our rescuers are equipped with specialised
equipment like life detecting devices and lifting and cutting tools to aid them in such missions. DART is highly trained in urban search and rescue, height rescue, medical trauma incidents, water search and rescue, heli-bucket operations, to name
a few. Besides rescuers, the contingent also consists of search dogs and technical experts such as civil engineers and doctors who specialise in trauma and emergency medicine.
Since the formation of this contingent in 1990, it had been deployed throughout the Asia-Pacific region to render humanitarian assistance to countries hit by major disasters.
Below is the list of Operation Lionheart missions since 1990. Click on the available links below to read more about the missions:
S/no
Mission / Location
Date
1.
Baguio City earthquake, Philippines
Jul 1990
2.
Highland Towers collapse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Dec 1993
3.
Tai Chung County earthquake in Taiwan
Sep 1999
4.
Asian Tsunami Disaster, Aceh, Indonesia
Dec 2004
5.
Asian Tsunami Disaster, Khao Lak, Thailand
Dec 2004
6.
Sumatra Earthquake, Nias Island, Indonesia
Mar 2005
7.
Rokan Hilir Bush Fires, Sumatra, Indonesia
Aug 2005
8.
South Asian Earthquake, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
Oct 2005
9.
Central Java Earthquake, Indonesia
May 2006
10.
Sichuan Earthquake, China
May 2008
11.
Padang City Earthquake, Sumatra, Indonesia
Oct 2009
12.
Christchurch Earthquake, New Zealand
Feb 2011
13.
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Mar 2011
14.
Flood, Kelantan, Malaysia
Dec 2014
15.
Forest Fire, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Mar 2015
16.
Nepal Earthquake, Kathmandu, Nepal
Apr 2015
17.
Forest Fire, Palembang, Indonesia
Oct 2015
18.
Flooding at Attapeu Province, Laos PDR
Aug 2018
19.
Flood at New South Wales, Australia
Nov 2022
20.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Feb 2023
21.
Earthquake, Naypyidaw, Myanmar
Mar 2025
ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT)
The ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) is a rapid deployable response team that supports affected ASEAN Member States during major disasters. Within 24 hours upon request from the affected ASEAN Member State(s), ASEAN-ERAT can be mobilised to support in the initial phase of a major disaster. SCDF currently has a pool of trained officers who can be activated on short notice for an ASEAN-ERAT deployment.
To become an ASEAN-ERAT member, each officer has to complete a 100-hour ERAT induction course and trained in standardised methodologies and skills in rapid assessments, logistics, information management, on-site coordination and emergency communications.
United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)
The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) is part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies. UNDAC was created in 1993. It is designed to help the United Nations and governments of disaster-affected
countries during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency. UNDAC also assists in the coordination of incoming international relief at a national level and/or at the site of the emergency.
UNDAC teams can deploy at short notice (12-48 hours) anywhere in the world. There is no charge imposed to the disaster-affected country, and UNDAC teams are deployed upon the request of the United Nations Resident or Humanitarian Coordinator and/or the
affected Government.
Assessment, coordination and information management are UNDAC's core mandates in an emergency response mission. Specifically in response to earthquakes, UNDAC teams set up and manage the On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) to help coordinate
international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams responding to the disaster - essential if USAR assistance is to function effectively. This concept was strongly endorsed in United Nations General Assembly resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002, on
“Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance”.
The UNDAC system comprises four components:
Staff
: Experienced emergency managers made available for UNDAC missions by their respective governments or organizations. UNDAC members are specially trained and equipped for their task;
Methodology
: Pre-defined methods for establishing coordination structures, and for organising and facilitating assessments and information management during the first phase of a sudden-onset disaster or emergency;
Procedures
: Proven systems to mobilize and deploy an UNDAC team to arrive at the disaster or emergency site within 12-48 hours of the request;
Equipment
: Personal and mission equipment for UNDAC teams to be self-sufficient in the field when deployed for disasters/emergencies.
Below is the list of ASEAN-ERAT / UNDAC deployments by SCDF:
S/no
Mission / Location
Date
ASEAN-ERAT / UNDAC
1.
Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar:
1 SCDF officer was first deployed as a member to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, to support and coordinate the relief efforts following Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. This was followed by the first
ASEAN ERAT mission for Post Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA).
5 May 2008
UNDAC and ERAT
2.
Mentawai Islands Tsunami:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as part of a four-member ERAT team to support the Government of Indonesia in rapid assessment efforts and identify immediate needs and gaps in the affected areas.
25 Oct 2010
ERAT
3.
Bangkok Floods:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as Team Leader to lead an ERAT 8-member team from various ASEAN member states to conduct rapid assessment for immediate relief needs of the flood affected people in Thailand
15 Oct 2011
ERAT
4.
Aceh Earthquake:
2 SCDF ERAT members deployed to support the disaster management efforts of the Government of Indonesia in response to the earthquake in Pidie Jaya, Aceh
8 Dec 2016
ERAT
5.
Needs assessment in Myanmar:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as Team Leader to lead an ERAT 2-member team to support the Government of Myanmar in rapid assessment efforts and identify immediate needs and gaps in the affected areas.
15 Jan 2018
ERAT
6.
Yangon Dumpsite fire:
2 SCDF ERAT members deployed to support the Government of Myanmar to conduct assessment and provide technical advice
28 Apr 2018
ERAT
7.
Lombok Earthquake:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as part of a four-member ERAT team to support the Government of Indonesia in rapid assessment efforts.
8 Aug 2018
ERAT
8.
Palu Earthquake:
5 SCDF ERAT members out of the 28 total ERAT deployed to support the government of Indonesia in assessment and coordination of international aid. This is the largest and longest ERAT deployment, to date.
29 Sep 2018
ERAT
9.
Preliminary Needs Assessment in Rakhine:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as Assistant Team Leader for the ASEAN-ERAT team to support the Government of Myanmar in rapid assessment efforts and identify immediate needs and gaps in the affected areas.
4 Mar 2019
ERAT
10.
Assessment in Cox's Bazaar in support of Myanmar Govt:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as member of the ASEAN-ERAT team to support a Myanmar Delegation in their high-level visit to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
16 Dec 2019
ERAT
11.
ASEAN Joint Needs Assessment in Myanmar:
2 SCDF ASEAN-ERAT members were deployed in support of the ASEAN Joint Needs Assessment in Myanmar.
30 May 2022
ERAT
12.
Tropical Cyclone Nalgae:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as member of the ASEAN-ERAT team to support the needs assessment following the Tropical Cyclone Nalgae in the Philippines.
6 Nov 2022
ERAT
13.
Cyclone Mocha:
1 SCDF ERAT member deployed as member of the ASEAN-ERAT team to support the rapid needs assessment following Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar.
18 May 2023
ERAT
14.
Myanmar Earthquake (UNDAC & ERAT):
Three SCDF ERAT members deployed as members of the ASEAN-ERAT team to support the Government of Myanmar in disaster management efforts for the assessment and coordination of international aid. An additional SCDF officer was also deployed as part of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team in support of the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs' deployment to the Myanmar Earthquake.
29 Mar 2025
UNDAC & ERAT