DOHA: The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani opened the 4th Civil Defence Exhibition and Conference yesterday at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
The three-day event is being organised by the General Directorate of Civil Defence in cooperation with Dar Al Sharq.
The Minister of State for Defence Affairs, H E Staff Major General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiya; the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning, H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa Al Thani; the Minister of Sports and Youth, H E Salah bin Ghanim Al Ali; the Minister of Transport, H E Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti, and the Director General of Public Security, Staff Brigadier Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi were among those who attended the opening ceremony.
In his opening speech, the Chairman of the Organising Committee and Director General of the General Directorate of Civil Defence Staff Brigadier Abdullah Muhammed Al Suwaidi said the event would be a new experience for all participants, as it would witness a number of activities which would strengthen the mechanism of coordination between Civil Defence and Search and Rescue teams in the field of disaster and calamities response regionally and internationally.
“We wish that the partnership of International Civil Defence Organisation and the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) with us will not be confined to this exhibition and conference, but will continue in order to implement studied plans and programmes according to international norms and standards,” said Brigadier Al Suwaidi.
Brigadier Al Suwaidi said this century witnessed technical advancement in various fields, “so we try through this gathering to share experiences and best practices in various areas of civil defence and search and rescue and promote international cooperation between them at regional and international levels.”
He said the event was also an occasion to announce the launch of Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College (RLESC) set to become a reputable educational institution that serves the region.
The conference, he said, comprises practical civil defence exercises as well as exercises for Qatari search and rescue team, with the participation of teams from the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, France, Spain, Russia, New Zealand and Singapore.
“The diversity and increasing frequency of crises and disasters and its disastrous effects on local communities and our region makes us always think of innovative mechanisms for rapid response, which requires us to look at the establishment of a mechanism for coordination between civil defence and search and rescue teams at the level of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League countries.”
Dr Vladimir Kuvshinov, Secretary-General of the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO), said the event was one of the most important conferences in the field of civil defence which gives opportunity for all participants to share experiences thus contributing to build a secure future for our communities.
He lauded the dramatic development made by Qatar particularly in the field of modern equipment and technology and remarkable professionalism of its civil defence personnel.
“Today Civil Defence of Qatar has become an example for all nations that really care for protection of people from natural and man-made disasters,” he said.
He added that the inauguration of RLESC would be an important contribution of Qatar to enhance joint efforts in the field of strengthening civil defence at all levels around the world.
The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani will inaugurate RLESC today.
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