The Ministry of Interior yesterday marked World Civil Defence Day, which is celebrated worldwide on March 1 each year.
This year’s celebration came under the theme of ‘Civil Defence and a first aider in every home’ to emphasise the importance of raising awareness of safety and security measures in society, and training civilians on how to deal with disasters and providing them with the necessary skills in this regard.
Civil Defence Director-General Brigadier Hamad Othman al-Duhaimi, highlighted the support provided by the MoI, furnishing the directorate with modern equipment and facilities, and qualifying its personnel, which represents the main pillar for the directorate’s performance of its noble humanitarian tasks.
He stressed the directorate’s keenness to enhance the family’s role in prevention and also in reducing the repercussions of disasters that may occur so that everyone can help the civil defence and its efforts to protect lives and property.
He said that the General Directorate of Civil Defence, with its human cadres trained in firefighting and rescue work, always takes into consideration the priority of safety of life, and then its efforts were regarding establishing a safety culture among the various segments of society.
Brigadier al-Duhaimi called on all components of civil society to co-operate with the efforts of the General Directorate of Civil Defence, in order to activate this year’s theme of ‘Civil Defence and a first aider in every home’, in order to preserve the safety of the people of the homeland by educating family members, and instilling safety concepts in them, and affirmation of the presence of one or more individuals, on knowledge of the most important measures to achieve safety and security, and to act in times of crises and disasters in a scientific manner.
He announced the launching of a one-year training awareness program, targeting school students, commercial complexes, and state ministries, aiming to achieve this year’s theme.
The head of media and awareness section of the General Directorate of Civil Defence, Major Jabir Mohamed al-Marri, said the celebration was being held in conjunction with the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) and aims to provide awareness and education in the safety and security procedures in every home.
He said that the mission of the General Directorate and its related departments is to highlight the potential risks in homes, procedures for securing homes through meetings, plans, and awareness programs that work to activate this theme.
The General Directorate also honoured outstanding personnel as well as collaborators and supporters of the Directorate’s efforts, in addition to the schools participating in the celebration.
An awareness film was also screened on home safety procedures, causes of fires in homes and ways to prevent them.
