Furthering Singapore's Foreign Policy Objectives through Foreign Disaster Assistance and Rescue Missions and Plans to Expand Contingent Sizes
Ministry of Foreign AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns how foreign disaster assistance and rescue missions align with Singapore’s foreign policy and whether there are plans to expand contingent sizes for major disasters. Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song enquired about current capacities and the inclusion of volunteers, full-time national servicemen (NSFs), and operationally ready national servicemen (ORNS). Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan explained that these missions demonstrate Singapore's status as a responsible global citizen and support bilateral ties during humanitarian crises. He highlighted that the 80-man "Operation Lionheart" contingent already includes NSFs and ORNS who provide specialized search, rescue, and medical capabilities. The Minister added that established protocols allow for the activation of additional standby teams for major regional disasters, as seen during the March 2025 mission to Myanmar.
Transcript
30 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) how do foreign disaster assistance and rescue missions further Singapore's foreign policy objectives as a responsible global citizen; (b) what are the current size and standby capacities of these teams; and (c) whether there are plans to significantly expand contingent sizes during major regional disasters by incorporating trained volunteers, full-time national servicemen, or operationally ready national servicemen.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Singapore contributes to foreign disaster assistance and rescue missions as a responsible and constructive member of the international community. These contributions help to support people in times of need, demonstrate solidarity with affected countries and promote broader bilateral ties.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) maintains a 24/7 operationally ready contingent capable of rapid mobilisation and deployment for overseas humanitarian missions. Operating under the codename "Operation Lionheart" (OLH), the primary capability of this contingent is to provide Urban Search and Rescue assistance to disaster-affected countries. SCDF's OLH contingent comprises 80 personnel and four search dogs.
Aside from SCDF regular officers, the OLH contingent incorporates both full-time National Servicemen, for example, NSF Medical Doctors, and Operationally Ready National Servicemen (in roles such as Deputy Team Leader, Rescue Technician, and so on). The OLH was recently deployed to Myanmar in March 2025 after a devastating earthquake to assist in search and rescue efforts, including the successful extrication of a live casualty from a partially collapsed building, the recovery of disaster victims from quake-affected structures, as well as the establishment of a medical outpost for the provision of medical aid.
For major regional disasters, SCDF maintains established protocols for activating additional standby personnel, and additional OLH teams can be deployed in support of the humanitarian efforts, if required.