Introduction
Mankind has suffered for many years from natural disasters that devastated property and population. It was difficult for countries to confront such disasters because they were incapable.
Before the First World War, there were no industrial disasters; the development occurred when countries started manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. Countries then developed such weapons to become a multi-species (nuclear - biological – chemical); then there has been an evolution in facing resultant disasters. Saudi Arabia adopted new methods to fight such disasters and to protect life and property. It established the General Directorate of Civil Protection (GDCP) as a civil defense department for this purpose, (refer to the definition of civil protection).
From this standpoint, the General Directorate of Civil Protection endeavors, under guidance and directives of Saudi Arabia's leadership, to curb potential disasters and minimize the effects in co-operation with other bodies through risk analysis, study and possibilities of occurrence; preparation of plans to control disasters; and readiness by making available all human and technical materials. The directorate performs evacuation and rehabilitation works as well.
Definition:
In the majority of states adopting same definition, legislations define civil protection as (The protection and rescue of mankind and his properties in all circumstances, during wars, upheavals and disasters).
In Saudi Arabia, according to the functions and objectives, Civil Protection is defined as (The deterrence of natural, industrial and military hazards; and mitigation of their consequences; to unify efforts to confront threats, to keep-going-on work of important facilities, to apply appropriate measures and actions to protect lives, public and private property under all circumstances).
History:
The idea of deterrence from hazards like earthquakes, volcanoes, winds, hurricanes etc.; and the dangers of wars are as old as man himself is. By elapse of time, evolution of human societies and prosperity of industries, urbanization, consequent risks of modern technology along with various disasters and calamities occurring at times, human thinking has changed to preserve the human race and economics, particularly because the modern social organization system threatens at all times of disasters, especially in large cities, where there are hundreds of thousands of population, large industrial vehicles and accumulation of lethal materials which make cities pools of risks and calamities besides the changes in some States at times like armed conflicts or wars. Thus, a majority of world's nations reconsider the establishment of a protection department to save man and property against hazards.
Britain was the first country in the world to organize civil protection in 1935; it has developed precautionary measures against air raids that urged the Defense Council to accredit the civil service in peacetime in 1940. The other countries participating in the Second World War were not equipped to cope with disasters then, because the civil protection department was not at their hierarchies. Government authorities before World War II did not develop a general comprehensive national system to be applied at peacetime, leaving the natural disasters confrontation to local authorities like municipalities and villages. When a disaster occurs, only citizens and volunteers intervene heterogeneously.
The need to seriously structure and regulate a civil protection body emerged worldwide in 1960. In Saudi Arabia, the Civil Protection Department, Directorate General of Civil Defense applies many tasks entrusted to them.
The Civil Protection Department has undergone many phases since establishment:
1- The Department was created in 1402H under the name "Relief and Disaster prevention Administration" that included the following sections:
2- The Department was restructured in 1406H and was renamed "Assistant to director General of Civil Protection" with following sections:
3- The Department was restructured in 1408H and was renamed "Civil Protection Affairs" with the following administrations:
4- The Department was restructured in 1409H and was renamed "The General Directorate of Civil Protection Affairs" with the following administrations:
5- The Department was restructured in 1416H and was renamed "The General Directorate of Civil Protection" with following the administrations:
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Risk Analysis.
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Warning Systems and Guidance.
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Programs and Authentication.
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Contingency Planning
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Readiness and Confrontation.
Tasks and functions of Civil Protection:
In some countries, civil protection carries out all civil defense tasks; and in some countries, some special tasks may be assigned at emergencies as follows:
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Classify risks to develop appropriate methods of confrontation.
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Deter natural, industrial and military hazards; and mitigate their consequences; unify efforts to confront threats, help continuation of work in important facilities and apply appropriate measures and actions to protect lives, public and private property.
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Plan how to confront emergencies to mitigate the effects of accidents of industry, nature and war.
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Set emergencies' general plans and the basis for detailed plans and follow-up the key committees at regions.
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Prepare scientific studies and field analysis to identify potential risks; and coordinate with all sectors and government institutions to develop general plans for intervention in cases of disasters.
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Arrange rapid intervention systems in emergencies.
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Prepare plans for volunteers.
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Prepare evacuation plans and accommodation in cases of wars and emergencies.
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Arrange and implement plans, policies and programs to apply the civil defense's rules and regulations relating to civil protection.
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Apply volunteers' rules and regulating articles; and plan to take advantage of them.
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Coordinate with the competent authorities to prepare warning-against-dangers plans.
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Work in co-ordination with ministries and government agencies responsible for implementation of Civil Defense activities.
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Train and prepare Civil Protection staff to confront potential risks.
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Protect against dangers of chemical, biological and nuclear wars.
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Erect temporary shelter camps to accommodate the victims and displaced.
Civil Protection Sections:
First - Risk Analysis
This section identifies current or anticipated hazards, to develop procedures and requirements to confront them.
Second - Contingency Planning:
This section sets emergencies' general plans and the basis for detailed plans and follow-up the key committees at regions, and it supervises the enacting of the DGCD's code and regulations in co-ordination with the Secretariat of the Council of Civil Defence.
Third - Readiness and Confrontation:
It Plans how to confront emergencies to mitigate the effects of accidents of industry, nature and war. It as well, plans emergency evacuation, sheltering, rehabilitating; and provides food and clothing to help victims return as quickly as possible to normal life.
Fourth - Warning Systems and Guidance:
It plans a warning network for dissemination, and sets general standards and measures for hidings and follow-up them; it educates community on civil protection activities, operational procedures and organization of work and it arranges operations rooms and centers to manage emergency confrontation.
Fifth - Programs and Documentation:
This section sets training plans and programs for CP staff, follows-up dealings with advisers and documents CP works in computer.