FAQs

Civil Defence is a government agency tasked with the following duties:

• Protecting citizens in the event of a natural disaster, industrial disaster or war.
• Mitigating the impact of hazards and uniting emergency response efforts.
• Ensuring the smooth functioning of essential government services.
• Designing appropriate procedures and activities to protect lives and public and private property in all circumstances

The Civil Defence Department is tasked with coordinating with government and non-government organisations to respond to potential hazards as follows:

Participate with universities and scientific research centres to define, analyse and classify hazards and carry out studies and specialist research. Design plans based on the studies to respond to hazards and to define the roles, missions and duties of all partner organisations.

Coordinate with partner organisations to implement the Civil Defence missions. The Department also oversees and follows up all activities, which aim to strengthen the capabilities of its directorates in potential hazard areas and provinces to enable them to respond to various natural, industrial and military disasters.

The Civil Defence committees play a major and effective role in responding to potential hazards in every province. These committees coordinate between partner organisations with a view to study recent hazards and to respond to emergencies.

The General Civil Protection Directorate at the General Civil Defence Department is tasked to follow-up and oversee the activities of these committees with a view to coordinate their efforts.

The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs is tasked with the construction of shelters in coordination with the General Civil Defence Department.

All administrative bodies are required to establish shelters in buildings, which belong to them.

The Civil Defence coordinates with partner organisations to determine which natural, industrial and military hazards are likely to happen and in which part of the kingdom. It also undertakes all the necessary preparations to prevent hazards from happening, minimise their occurrence and prepare response plans. Among the preparations undertaken by the department are:

1- Preparations before hazards occur:

• Prepare the plans necessary to respond to various hazards.
• Coordinate with all partner organisations, in accordance with the mission and responsibilities of each organisation.
• Draw up a list of all available resources to be used to respond to hazards.
• Carry out mock exercises in coordination with partner organisations.
• Train Civil Defence employees and upgrading their knowledge and skills.

2- Preparations undertaken to respond disasters when they occur:

• Hold immediate, principal and branch committee meetings in provinces and governorates.
• Implement plans to respond to hazards.
• Coordinate immediately with partner organisations with a view to discuss the situation in the event of a disaster.

3- Preparations undertaken in the aftermath of a disaster:

• Restore normal conditions in the disaster-stricken area in accordance with plans.
• Record all lessons learnt from operations carried out in response to the disaster and finding appropriate solutions to civil defence performance shortcomings.

The General Civil Defence Department offers high quality theoretical and practical training to its employees. Numerous university and technical college graduates have joined the civil defence department, which continues to pursue its training and recruitment strategy.

The General Civil Defence Department seeks to organise training sessions in universities, scientific institutions and specialist training centres inside or outside the kingdom in coordination with the General Training Directorate. The training programmes are designed as follows:

1. Short-term training programmes: last for one month and focus mainly on civil defence activities. Conferences, local and international visits are organised as part of these programmes.
2. Medium-term training sessions: do not exceed a month or one academic year. These sessions are custom designed and delivered by renowned university lecturers and trainers who have expertise in civil defence areas.
3. Long-term training sessions: held during a period, which exceeds one year. After successful completion, the trainees receive a master's degree or a PhD degree and specialist degrees delivered by the best universities in the kingdom and abroad.

The Department responds to current and potential events, studies all changes and prepares the necessary plans to respond to hazards in coordination with partner organisations.

Among the preparedness plans designed by the Department, there is the Hajj Emergency Response Plan and the other future plans designed to respond adequately to potential hazards.

It must be noted that the role of civil defence in the coming period complements all previous activities carried out by the department in conformity with its plans and responsibilities.

The Civil Defence Department prepares in advance for the Hajj season. The preparations include intervening and preventing potential hazards, protecting the lives and property of persons performing the Hajj.

The following is a list of Hajj civil defence preparations and activities:

1. Design a general plan for civil defence measures to be adopted in the event of an emergency during the Hajj season. The plan aims to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to protect persons performing the Hajj and citizens.
2. The Department sets up plans to respond to all potential hazards and to mitigate their impact. It provides all necessary resources, coordinates the services of governmental and nongovernmental organisations participating in the Hajj activities.
3. Prepares the necessary transport, evacuation and sheltering plans and provides necessary household items, shelters and alternative safety areas in the holy places.
4. It also provides clothing and medicine for evacuees and ensures appropriate conditions to perform the religious rites comfortable.