BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE – is exploring opportunities to strengthen its disaster preparedness and emergency response systems through technical exchanges with Taiwan following a practical site visit to the National Fire Agency’s training centre.
The Eswatini delegation, participating in the newly established World Alliance for Disaster Management (WADM), toured the facility to gain first-hand insight into Taiwan’s emergency response operations, training methods and use of technology in disaster management.
The visit provided the delegation with an opportunity to observe simulation exercises, advanced technologies and live rescue demonstrations designed to replicate challenging disaster situations.
The practical demonstrations showed how emergency responders are trained to coordinate rescue operations and respond to complex incidents in controlled environments.
The National Fire Agency training centre plays an important role in preparing emergency personnel for different types of disasters.
According to Taiwan’s National Fire Agency, the centre provides specialised practical training using simulated environments covering incidents such as building fires, high-rise rescues, water and flood emergencies, ship and aircraft incidents, collapsed structures, landslides, road and tunnel accidents and petrochemical emergencies.
The facility has also developed an international role, with Taiwan seeking to use its disaster-management expertise to strengthen cooperation and professional exchanges with partners across the region.
For Eswatini, the exchange provides an opportunity to examine approaches that could contribute to strengthening local emergency preparedness, disaster response and humanitarian assistance.
Technology was a key feature of the practical demonstrations witnessed by the delegation.
Taiwan’s National Fire Agency has incorporated technologies such as drones and disaster-response robots into emergency operations, helping responders gather information, assess dangerous environments and support rescue missions.
The agency has also demonstrated the use of a 5G digital artificial-intelligence rescue platform during large-scale disaster exercises, highlighting the role of technology in improving search-and-rescue coordination.
The Eswatini delegation observed live demonstrations that provided practical insight into how technology, specialised training and coordinated response can work together during emergencies.
During the visit, Dr Huan-Chang Hsiao emphasised Taiwan’s willingness to strengthen cooperation with WADM member states.
He said Taiwan’s hands remain open to cooperating and partnering with member states at multiple levels, reinforcing the country’s commitment to shared resilience and collaboration.
The potential areas of cooperation include exchange-learning programmes between Eswatini and Taiwan, specialised training courses in Taiwan and other initiatives aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness, emergency management and resilience.
Taiwan’s National Fire Agency has previously hosted international emergency personnel for specialised training in areas including fire rescue, humanitarian assistance, swift-water rescue, rope rescue and petrochemical disaster response.
The visit comes shortly after the establishment of the World Alliance for Disaster Management in Taipei, where Eswatini joined other founding members in creating a platform focused on strengthening international cooperation in disaster risk management.
The Alliance is intended to facilitate joint training, exercises, coordinated responses and information sharing among participating countries and organisations.
For Eswatini, participation in the Alliance creates an avenue to build relationships with countries possessing specialised disaster management experience.
The Taiwan exchange therefore provides more than exposure to emergency equipment and rescue techniques. It creates an opportunity for knowledge transfer, professional development and future partnerships that could strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience.
As climate related hazards, emergencies and disasters continue to challenge communities worldwide, cooperation between countries remains important in building systems capable of protecting lives, responding quickly and supporting recovery.
The Eswatini delegation’s engagement with Taiwan’s National Fire Agency is consequently an important step in exploring practical approaches that can contribute to stronger disaster-management capacity at home and through international partnerships.
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