Under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) yesterday opened the sixth Disaster Management Camp (DMC-6) at the Marine Scout Camp, Al Khor, under the slogan “Effective Preparedness...Better Response”.
The event, which runs until April 9, is being held in co-ordination with a number of Qatari government and non-government organisations, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, Red Cross and UN.
The event was announced open during a press conference held at the Humanitarian Tent in the presence of QRC secretary-general Saleh bin Ali al-Mohannadi and camp director Rashid bin Saad al-Mohannadi.
DMC-6 is being attended by 350 volunteers from Qatar and abroad, including 54 participants from 15 Mena national societies from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Palestine, Somalia, Yemen, Turkey, Mauritania, Niger, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq. It also features 45 trainers from several local and international organisations.
Among the contributors to the event are the Ministry of Interior, Permanent Committee for Emergency, Qatar Armed Forces, Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), Ministry of Youth and Sports, Social and Sport Contribution Fund (Daam), Al Rayyan TV, Ooredoo, Supreme Council of Health, Qatar Meteorology Department, Qatar Steel, Qatar Charity, Qatar Scout & Guide Association, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Scientific Club, Qatar Tourism Authority, Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co, Al Meera Group, Doha Golf Club, Community Policing Department, Al Sultan Beach Resort, Al Khor Sports Club and Al Khor Municipality.
The agenda of the camp involves two categories of theoretical and practical training: specialised training in six fields - assessment & field co-ordination, shelter & registration, water & sanitation, food & distribution, media & communication in emergency, and emergency healthcare, and general evening training in seven specialties - Sphere standards, disaster management & leadership in humanitarian action, emergency operation management, logistics, psychological support, secure access, and restoring family links.
Both the QRC secretary-general and camp director expressed gratitude to HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and the various contributing organisations for their support.
“Through this camp, QRC seeks to build the capacity of society members and institutions, hone the skills of its volunteers, find a mechanism of co-ordination with relevant State authorities for a unified action plan and create a community base of well-trained disaster response volunteers,” said the secretary-general.
“This year, 25 government and private institutions have supported the camp, whose contributions to DMC-6 are highly appreciated. Having preparing for it since October 2014, DMC-6 commences today with the arrival of volunteers recruited by the event’s organising committee over the past few months,” said the camp director.
The first day’s agenda involved registration, medical examination and distribution of training and accommodation items.
Officials announcing the launch of DMC-6.
