UAE joins world family in celebrating World Civil Defence Day today

ABU DHABI, 1st March 2016 (WAM) - The UAE will join the international community in celebrating World Civil Defence Day, being marked this year under the theme, '' Civil Defence and Modern Media. World Civil Defence Day, created by a decision of the International Civil Defence Organisation, ICDO, General Assembly in 1990, is celebrated every year on the 1st of March. This day commemorates the entry into force of the ICDO Constitution as an intergovernmental organisation in 1972 and has two main purposes: that of bringing to the attention of the world public the vital importance of Civil Protection and of raising awareness of the preparedness for, and prevention and self-protection measures in the event of accidents or disasters, and that of paying tribute to the efforts, sacrifices and accomplishments of all the national services responsible for the fight against disasters. In the UAE, the government pays special attention to the day amidst the remarkable socio-economic progress and urban and demographic expansion in the county. The UAE has equipped the civil defence directorates with advanced technology using the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation and recovery as part of national plans to protect members of the public and property. The day is an occasion for a variety of national events to increase levels of protective and preventive awareness, including conferences, radio and television debates, exhibitions, open days, and disaster prevention and simulation exercises. It also provides an opportunity to take stock of the development of civil protection structures and of the technical means and equipment currently available. On 1st March, the Ministry of Interior will host a "Civil Defence and Modern Media Conference" to mark the celebrations. Major-General Jassem Muhammad Al Marzouqui, Civil Defence General Commander-in-chief, said that the conference establishes the principles of joint action between specialised government institutions and various segments of society. "It contributes to the development of common and sustainable communications and co-operation for the security and safety of the community. It also embodies the strategic directives of increasing awareness of preventing hazards such as fires and accidents, and ways of dealing with disasters," he added. Major-General Al Marzouqui praised the unwavering support and close follow-up by the police leadership, which has a significant impact in improving the sector’s staff members’ performance. He also pointed out that the civil defence staff members have shown high professionalism, morale, bravery, courage and sacrifice in the fields of their work. They have implemented best practices in the field of firefighting, prevention and rescue. They also have endeavoured to spread the culture of safety and preventive awareness, and acquaint community members with security and safety requirements in order to protect lives, property and facilities. Major-General Al Marzouqui emphasised that the celebration provides the opportunity to remember the implementation of the statute of the International Civil Defence Organisation, which was approved on 1st March, 1972, in Geneva. "It also highlights the importance and role of civil defence organisations in supporting development plans, protecting life and property, and the many contributions of these groups in terms of fighting against disasters that threaten human life and the environment," he said. The conference recognises the important role of the media in the transfer and delivery of messages that the civil defence is trying to deliver to all segments of society. These messages are transmitted in various languages through traditional and modern methods, particularly social networks. Social networks are primarily interactive media platforms. They are an important part of the media strategy of the Civil Defence GHQ, as they are a channel through which authorities can communicate with the public to spread prevention and safety messages. This emphasises the importance of community awareness in the protection of fires, and to provide safety for all by complying with the public safety standards and requirements. The Directorate General of Civil Defence, MoI, spares no effort to boost community members’ confidence in the services it offers, through multiple awareness, educational, and scientific activities. This embodies the MoI’s strategic goal, which falls in line with the government’s vision, to have the UAE become one of the best countries in the world in terms of excellence and public services. With the world witnessing more man-made and natural disasters, rapid socio-economic development, massive urbanisation, and exponential growth in population, explosive expansion in utilities and abuse of modern technology, the civil defence corps is gaining increasing importance and its mission is taking on new concepts such as crisis management, emergency management, emergency preparedness, contingency planning, emergency services, and civil protection. Civil defence in the UAE has also seen spectacular milestones in the areas of building of professional capacities and development of human resources, as well as the introduction of the most advanced civil defence equipment and engines. The state's forward thinking in having a modern civil defence service has paid off in the swift response by fire fighters to the The Address Downtown Hotel fire on 31st December 2016 in Dubai. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited the site and praised the emergency services for their efficient work in putting out the fire, which did not claim any lives, thanking firefighters, rescue and ambulance teams for their speedy response and for handling the incident professionally. Sheikh Mohammed expressed his confidence in UAE citizens and their ability to handle emergencies and crises. In his address to the World Government Summit hosted in Dubai recently, Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, shed light on the importance of "Shaping the Future" through a short video showcasing the fire at The Address Hotel. "The outcome of the incident is one of the aspects of shaping the future. This is what the UAE has worked towards achieving for years, to ensure full readiness and preparedness to handle such challenges and crisis," he said. H.H. Sheikh Saif referred to the directives issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in 2003, in the wake of the Abu Dhabi Souq fire, which represented a major turning point in ensuring preparedness for similar incidents in an integrated manner. He noted, "Such an approach is based on the principle that ‘responding to crisis only when they occur means inevitable failure’." H.H Sheikh Saif continued, "An Integration Doctrine is key to shaping the future. The video footage, which shows the fire being brought under control, is testament to the integration efforts between the leadership, the government, community members from different backgrounds, and institutions (municipality, tourism, media, police, civil defence, etc.)." H.H. Sheikh Saif indicated that this integration did not begin on December 31st, 2015; it started back in 2003, with the successful design of the buildings and the area, coupled with good planning, readiness, and zero-hour proactive response. The MoI's strategic development plan envisages that all protection and prevention services will be transformed into integrated smart operations. In addition, the Civil Defence sector, MoI, has approved the ‘'Federal Community Awareness and Training Plan for 2016’'. By adopting this plan, the Civil Defence sector aims to spread the culture of safety and preventive awareness among community members and reinforce the strategic partnership with both, public and private sectors institutions, and volunteer organisations. It also seeks to establish an early perception of the sector’s needs and requirements that would contribute to the success of the plan, help to set up comprehensive media programmes to achieve strategic goals, notably boosting prevention awareness in society and ensure speed of response to emergencies and public disasters. The plan stressed the importance of concerted efforts and the need to create a joint work culture that facilitates teamwork and team spirit. He also emphasised the need to unify information and guidance according to international standards, instil the quality and excellence approach adopted by the higher leadership of the UAE in all aspects of life, promote internal training and awareness courses and encourage volunteer community work. The plan is based on statistics and field questionnaires, all of which have contributed to identifying priorities, updating the Civil Defence sector’s media strategy nationwide by leveraging the available physical and human resources, according to clear timetables and objectives. The Dubai Civil Defence has succeeded in the completion of linking about 52,000 buildings automatically with the civil defence, as is seeking to link around 8,000 buildings annually in the coming years. The department is also working on registering the civil defence equipment, and ensuring its sustainability and integrity. There are currently 106 civil defence centres in the UAE, sited as follows: 49 centres in Abu Dhabi, 15 in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah, 5 in Ajman, 3 in Umm Al Qaiwain, 6 in Ras al-Khaimah, and 7 in Fujairah. The UAE joined the membership of Executive Board of the International Civil Defence Organisation in mid-December, 2012, in recognition of its role as an active member in the General Assembly of the organisation since its establishment in 1972. – Emirates News Agency, WAM -http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395292195330.html