Al-Amn Magazine

SECURITY is Excellency the Minister of Interior General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Civil Defence Council, chaired the council’s meeting attended by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance and National Economy, Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Oil and Environment, Electricity and Water Affairs, Health, Housing and Urban Planning, Information, as well as the Chief of Public Security.  His Excellency welcomed the council members and emphasised that the meeting is within the framework to reinforce civil protection and general safety procedures.  The council discussed the topics on the meeting’s agenda, including briefs on comprehensive procedures for potential regional threat scenarios. These scenarios were reviewed, along with the role of government entities and the strategic dimensions related to enhancing preparedness for emergency response, including national readiness and integration between related sectors. The meeting also discussed the radiation emergency response plan to protect general safety.  The council highlighted joint exercises being carried out in coordination with the relevant authorities to develop civil protection operations.  As part of strengthening the national early warning infrastructure, the Council discussed the national general framework for wireless alerts as a strategic reference for regulating the unified transmission of warning messages across various digital and traditional platforms. This framework was developed by international best practices, serving as a fundamental pillar of the national early warning system and thereby enhancing community response. The meeting topics included reviewing national threat response plans, developing the technological infrastructure for early warning platforms and public communication during emergencies, enhancing the readiness of shelters, and raising the efficiency of human resources through specialised training. Additionally, the meeting reviewed the sustainability of civil defence initiatives.  His Excellency emphasised the importance of a proactive approach to promote national capabilities for preparedness and emergency response, along with establishing detailed plans to define roles and responsibilities, thereby enhancing active response and ensuring the continuity of essential services during emergencies. He highlighted that the upcoming phase required periodic evaluation mechanisms of risks and expanding the foundation for joint exercises among ministries and concerned authorities.  He highlighted the importance of developing early warning systems and ensuring that alerts reach all segments of society through multiple means, as part of comprehensive community awareness programmes.  He also highlighted the continued development of the National Civil Protection Platform, which provides up-to-date data on risks and facilitates information exchange among relevant authorities.  At the end of the meeting, His Excellency thanked the Council members for their role in developing cooperation and coordination mechanisms aimed at strengthening civil defence preventive measures, assessing the level of preparedness and readiness to address potential risks, and increasing safety rates for all citizens and residents. H Rei nforci ng ci v i l protect i on Hi gh l i ght i ng regi ona l t hreat scenari os