Interior Minister and Civil Defence Council chairman General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa chaired a meeting of the council yesterday as part of “ongoing efforts to enhance civil protection measures and public safety”.
The council reviewed comprehensive preparedness measures for potential regional threat scenarios. The review included an assessment of the roles of relevant government entities, and strategic approaches to elevating emergency preparedness and response, with a particular focus on national readiness and strengthening inter-sectoral co-ordination. The council also discussed the emergency response plan for radiological incidents to ensure public safety.
The officials also reviewed joint exercises aimed at advancing collaborative efforts in civil protection and raising national preparedness levels for public safety.
The meeting’s agenda covered several key topics, including reviewing national response plans to threats, developing the technological infrastructure for early warning and mass communication platforms during emergencies, enhancing the readiness of shelters, upskilling human resources through specialised training, and supporting sustainability initiatives in the field of civil defence.
The minister emphasised the importance of maintaining a proactive approach to strengthening national preparedness and emergency response capabilities. He underscored the need for detailed plans that clearly define roles and responsibilities, ensure effective responses, and guarantee the continuity of essential services during emergencies.
He also highlighted the importance of risk assessment and expanding joint exercises across ministries and relevant agencies in the coming period.
Gen Shaikh Rashid stressed the need to further develop early warning systems and ensure that alerts reach all segments of society through multiple channels, as part of comprehensive community awareness programmes.
He called for the continued development of the national civil protection platform to provide up-to-date risk information and facilitate information sharing among relevant entities.
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