The Ministry of Interior (MoI) yesterday announced special security measures for the Qatar National Day celebrations.
The details were provided by Brigadier Ali Khujaim al-Adbi, director of Establishments and Authorities Security Department at MoI and chairman of the Security Committee for the 2018 Qatar National Day celebrations, during a press conference 
yesterday.
The details included the security procedures pertaining to the National Day celebrations, traffic organisation and public gatherings, along with other regulatory matters, the MoI said in a statement. 
The press conference was attended by Brigadier General Jassim Mohamed al-Hail, assistant director of the department.
Brigadier al-Adbi noted that while many activities and programmes are held in different parts of the country for communities, the main event of the celebrations is the national parade held on the Doha Corniche. 
He said the events will start at 2.45pm tomorrow, calling on the public to be present ahead of time as Corniche Road will be closed from 10am. All roads leading to the Corniche will also be closed. 
The public will be guided to other areas after the nearby spots are occupied, it was informed. He said celebrations will take place today also, including fireworks, with the events starting at 3pm and ending late at night. 
The official explained the assembly points to go to the Corniche and for car parking through a map prepared for this purpose. He appreciated the co-operation of all parties 
participating in the celebrations. 
He said the committee has equipped about 25 parking spaces for the public, near the exhibition centre close to the buildings of Qatar Petroleum along with the parking of Sheraton Doha, the parking area behind Qatar Sports Club and another near the General Post Office. 
The committee has also allocated parking spaces for the public at Imam Muhammed bin Abdul Wahab Mosque, the Al Bidda underground parking facilities in front of the MoI building, near Marmar Palace, at the headquarters of Qatar Bowling Federation near the Mannai underpass and a plot close to the old building of the British embassy, the statement informed.
The head of the security committee said there would also be parking lots for the public at Souq Waqif and Museum of 
Islamic Art (MIA). 
The committee has allocated Karwa buses to transport the public to and from remote parking lots and also allotted some buses for families and persons with special needs as well, he added. Vehicles will be allowed only for authorised persons.
Brigadier al-Adbi said the organising committee has taken into consideration the possibility that some people - including both citizens and residents - would not be able reach the spot on time. Accordingly, large screens will be placed in Al Bidda Park and Al Rayyan Park.
In order to provide services to the public, there will be special emergency points of Hamad Medical Corporation where medics would be available for the treatment of injuries or other cases as required. He said the organising committee has also arranged for small stalls to distribute refreshments, water and light food to the public on the Corniche, and there will be 
temporary toilets as well. 
He called on the public to co-operate with security personnel and follow their instructions to ensure the success of the security plan developed to provide security and safety, so that the public enjoy a pleasant time on the joyous occasion. He noted that the committee has prepared spaces for families and for the rest of the public. There are also spaces for persons with special needs.
Brigadier al-Adbi said an office has been set up in the old MoI building on the Corniche to deal with cases of missing children. The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior, as well as the Juvenile Police Department and Community Police Department, 
will be working for this.