Eminent guests visit DMC-9, commend humanitarian training

Eminent guests visited the ninth Disaster Management Camp (DMC-9), organised by Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) under the patronage of the Ministry of Public Health, QRCS said on Monday.They included HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, Minister of Municipality. He was introduced to the various training spaces and took a tour of the camp’s facilities, mainly the field hospital and emergency operations room.The general morning meeting was attended by HE Sheikh Dr Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Humanitarian Funds in Doha. He shared his humanitarian experience with the trainees and stressed the importance of humanitarian action as a strategic priority for Qatar. He was received by Faisal Mohamed al-Emadi, CEO of QRCS, and Hussain Aman al-Ali, Head of DMC-9.In his speech, HE Sheikh Dr Abdulaziz said: "Humanitarianism is a matter of a nation that helps others regardless of religion, race or citizenship. This attitude must be shown to everyone with no discrimination and give an example to the whole world. I am happy that this camp is organised at such a level of success and excellence, and it is a source of pride that Qatar has such an event, which is the only one of its kind given in Arabic. I am ready to support and promote the idea globally."Throughout the day, the camp was visited by many other guests, notably Ibrahim Abdullah al-Dehaimi, director-general of the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities; Ibrahim Hashem al-Sada, board member of QRCS; ambassador Abdelnasser bin Mohamed Abu al-Fin, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a group of students from Hind Bint Amr Al-Ansaria Preparatory School for Girls.The Blue Team attended a lecture on health in emergencies, presented by Dr Zuhair Abdelkader, epidemiologist and volunteer with QRCS, and Dr Hassan Dalloul, EMS physician at QRCS.The training involved a visit to the field hospital and lifesaving first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation practice.On Sunday evening, the Humanity Group attended a lecture by trainer Dr Rania Mohamed al-Far from QRCS. It tackled psychosocial support and how to address mental issues among individuals, families and communities.The Safer Access team implemented a scenario of a relief convoy bus being hijacked by a rebel militia in a disaster-affected country. The members of the relief team were tied, and the aid was seized.Immediately, the operations room was activated to manage the situation, communicate with the kidnappers, try to calm them down, and emphasise the team’s humanitarian mission. At the same time, the team members did the right thing of not provoking the attackers, thus ensuring their own safety.At the end of the drill, negotiations with the militants were successful, persuading them to release the hostages and return them to the bus safely.