By Ayman Adly /Staff Reporter


Some 150 volunteers from Qatar, the GCC and the Arab and international relief organisations are attending a 10-day camp organised by Qatar Red Crescent and Al-Khor Marine Scout where they are imparted practical training to help refugees or people in distress.
Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) inaugurated yesterday the 4th edition of the Disaster Management Training Camp (DMTC), under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani. The camp adopts the topic “Effective preparations to achieve a better response” and enjoys the support of various Qatari governmental and non-governmental organisations. It also includes participation of Qatar Amateur Radio Society for the first time due to the high importance of wireless communication in this field.  
“DMTC will have a significant impact at the local and international levels with the presence of over 25 international organisations, humanitarian institutions, civil society organisations and governmental bodies,” said QRC Secretary General Saleh Ali al-Muhannadi.
He pointed out that such a distinguished blend of organisations will eventually enhance experience exchange among the trainees and considerably improve their skills to address any future disaster anywhere because the participants have various experiences of dealing with major disasters that took place around the world.  
Al-Muhannadi explained that “the training will work by improving the efficiency of the volunteers through a six-day training programme, both theoretical and practical. Then, it will be followed by a three-day field assessment based on a hypothetical disaster scenario carried out by international trainers.”
He affirmed that the camp will maintain approved international standards in the field on the hands of internationally recognised trainers aiming at creating a new generation of volunteers able to give effective and timely response in times of crises.
This year’s edition of DMTC has enjoyed wider participation of different Arab countries such as all GCC countries, Egypt, Iraq, and Sudan. It is also two days longer than previous editions and introduced more areas of related training such drinking water and sanitary drainage management. Volunteers, including women, were registered yesterday as if they were refugees and received the necessary equipment to manage their lives with small amounts of food and water. Also, they would live in tents throughout the duration of the training period, except females who will go to a hotel for the night.
“On the first day 150 volunteers registered and experienced what it meant to be a refugee and in distress. Then, they had to pass a preliminary medical examination before moving to the distribution points to receive all necessary equipment including uniforms. Hence,  they will be divided into six groups in different colours of red, blue, green, yellow, grey and purple,” pointed out Rashid al-Muhannadi, director of DMTC.
The volunteers would form various field teams that would deal with field assessment, health, water and sanitation, nutrition, shelter, registration and logistics and media communication team. The training will culminate in all the teams implementing a quick response to a supposed disaster scenario. Trainees would be charged with mission of relieving a number of affected people and the assessment of the needs for the real situation under direct supervision of the coaches.     
Participants will receive certificates supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and QRC. Further, distinguished ones will be selected to work within the national and regional intervention teams.
The concluding ceremony, scheduled for April 10, would be attended by ranking officials representing various Qatari organisations.