A regional course on Maritime Search and Rescue conducted at the Rwanda Peace Academy ends today after a weeklong training on how to respond to emergencies at sea.The course is a result of collaborative efforts between the Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM), the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden), and the Rwanda Peace Academy."The aim of the course was to train and equip military officers at operational level with skills that enable them to respond to any emergencies or distress at sea,” Col. Jill Rutaremara,  the director of Rwanda Peace Academy, said. "Search and rescue is an important aspect of maritime safety operations, and the regional course will, therefore, enhance regional maritime safety and security.”The course is conducted within the broader context of peace support operations.Twenty-three military officers from eight Eastern Africa Standby Force member states took part in the course. The participating countries are Burundi, Uganda, Djibouti, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, and the Republic of Comoros.