Qatar- Ministry of Interior celebrates World Civil Defence Day

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA

Doha: The Ministry of Interior marked yesterday World Civil Defence Day, which is celebrated worldwide on the 1st of March each year, in order to remind the role played by Civil Defence to protect lives and property.
This year's celebration came under the theme 'Civil Defence and national institutions against disasters to underscore the importance of strengthening partnerships between various institutions and companies related to Civil Defence.
The Assistant Director General of Civil Defence Brigadier Hamad Othman Al Dehaimi, said that the Ministry of Interior in the State of Qatar is marking the day, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and communication with various institutions and individuals who spare no effort in supporting Civil Defence efforts in spreading awareness and achieving security and safety.
Al Dehaimi said in a speech during the ceremony that this cooperation is urgent, especially in view of this great and rapid development in various fields, which requires strengthening the partnership between all parties in order to achieve safety and protection of life and property.
He pointed out that the motto of this year carries concrete images that reflect the solidarity of national institutions and all sectors of the society with their cooperation to contribute to protect this country and preserve its capabilities against all kind of disasters through community partnership and activating awareness and education programs to prevent risks.
He further pointed out that the General Directorate of Civil Defence is working to consolidate the concept of this motto in national and civil society institutions and all segments of society, stressing that this partnership is a precondition for the success of the efforts to meet the challenges and maintain the security and safety of the homeland.
For his part, the Director of Operations Department of the General Directorate of Civil Defence Major Mohammed Ahmed Al Maarafi said that this year's celebration comes amidst several achievements of the Department at various levels of training and awareness, as well as enhancing the fleet with the latest vehicles and equipment.
He added that the Department owns a fleet of vehicles which is the latest in the world, which goes along with the overall urban development, and responds to the requirements of high buildings, adding that the Department owns cars with a mobile ladder of height of 112 metres which is the highest in the world, used in high buildings.
He pointed out that the Department has other sophisticated vehicles used in fighting industrial plant fires, in addition to equipment used in case of building collapse and other vehicles that are designed according to the latest technologies.
Concerning the response time, he said that Civil Defence has achieved ratios of 7 to 10 minutes in line with international response rate, taking into account the qualitative and rapid change in urbanization, in addition to infrastructure projects and other large projects implemented by the state.
The ceremony included the presentation and commissioning of the latest Civil Defence vehicle which newly joined the Civil Defence fleet. The latest vehicle to join the fleet is a new fast intervention and rescue vehicle. The ceremony also included an evacuation drill using mobile escalator vehicle.
The ceremony also included honuoring the General Directorate of Civil Defence for a number of Ministries, government institutions and cooperating companies.