NEWS - ICDO

International Civil 

Defence Journal International Civil 

Defence Organisation 

ICDO Protection and assistance for all Vol. XIX|N° 1|May 2009 

World 

Civil Defence Day 

2009 

The Civil Defence Academy 

of the EMERCOM 

of Russia 

The strategy 

of Disaster Management 

and Confrontation in Egypt

World Disasters Report 2008 

Focus on HIV and AIDS 

The World Disasters Report 2008 features: 

• The challenge of HIV and AIDS 

• The disaster of HIV 

• The humanitarian interface: using the HIV lens 

• HIV and population mobility: reality and myths 

• Refugees and the impact of war on HIV 

• Natural disasters: the complex links with HIV 

• HIV and AIDS funding: where does the money go? 

Plus: photos, tables, graphics and index 

The AIDS epidemic is a disaster on many levels. In the most 

affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where prevalence 

rates reach 20 per cent, development gains are reversed and 

life expectancy may be halved. 

For specific groups of marginalized people – injecting drug 

users, sex workers and men who have sex with men – across 

the world, HIV rates are on the increase. Yet they often face 

stigma, criminalization and little, if any, access to HIV prevention 

and treatment services. As this report explains, HIV 

is a challenge to the humanitarian world whose task is to improve 

the lives of vulnerable people and to support them in 

strengthening their capacities and resilience. Disasters, manmade 

and ‘natural’, exacerbate other drivers of the epidemic 

and can also increase people’s vulnerability to infection. 

Published annually since 1993, the World Disasters Report brings together the latest trends, facts 

and analysis of contemporary crises – whether 'natural' or man-made, quick-onset or chronic.

ICDO 

Protection and assistance for all 

International Civil 

Defence Journal 

Vol. XIX N° 1 ISSN: 1022-3908 

PUBLICATION OBJECTIVE 

Contributing to the promotion of Civil Defence 

throughout the world 

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR 

Nawaf Al Sleibi, Secretary-General, 

International Civil Defence Organisation 

EDITORIAL SECRETARIAT 

Stéphane Davin, 

International Civil Defence Organisation 

COPYRIGHT 

Material from this publication may be reproduced 

provided that the reprinted text is accompanied 

by the following acknowledgement: 

International Civil Defence Journal of the 

ICDO. 

Opinions expressed in the articles appearing in 

the journal are the authors’ personal opinions 

and do not necessarily reflect those of the Organisation 

The mention of specific companies or of certain 

manufacturers’ products does not imply endorsement 

nor preference by the ICDO to others 

of a similar nature that are not mentioned. 

ICDO Headquarters 

Chemin de Surville 10-12 - P.O. Box 172 

CH-1213 Petit-Lancy 2 (Geneva), Switzerland 

Tel. +41 22 879 69 69 

Fax +41 22 879 69 79 

E-mail: icdo@icdo.org 

Internet: http://www.icdo.org 

Photo cover: 

© ICDO-OIPC 

Contents 

Vol XIX|N° 1|May 2009 

NEWS 

Programme de formation OIPC 2009 4 

World Civil Defence Day 2009 6 

Member and Observer States 21 

International Cooperation 26 

Visit of delegation of Member States 

of the International Civil Defence Organization 

to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season 

Directorate general of civil defence 

Saudi Arabia 28 

Natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2008: 

North America and Asia suffer heavy losses 

Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd 32 


of the EMERCOM of Russia 

EMERCOM of Russia 35 

The strategy of Disaster Management 

and Confrontation in Egypt 

Major-General Hussein Mohamed Saeed Abdelaziz 

Director of the General Administration of Civil Protection 

Egypt 39

7 - 25 

March 

Programme of ICDO courses 2009 

Date Location Theme 

30 March 

02 April 

06 - 10 

April 

09 - 27 

May 

04 - 08 

May 

22 - 26 

June 

27 June 

01 July 

04 - 22 

July 

06 – 12 

July 


Regional Training Center 

(Cairo, Egypt) 

Fire and Rescue Service 

Civil Defence Dept. 

(Geneva, Switzerland) 



Dakar, Senegal 







University of State Fire Service of 

EMERCOM of Russia 

St. Petersburg, Russian Fed. 

NAUSS University 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 






(Yaounde, Cameroon) 

ﺔﻴﻋﺎﻨﺼﻟا ﺮﻃﺎﺨﻤﻠﻟ ﺔﻴﺳﺎﺳﻷا ةروﺪﻟا 

Risks of accidents in industrial areas 

Conduite des opérations de sauvetage 

en zone urbaine 

Séminaire de management 

pour chefs civils et militaires 

يﺮﺤﺒﻟاو يﺮﻬﻨﻟا ذﺎﻘﻧﻹا لﺎﻤﻋأو صﻮﻐﻟا ةرود 

Maritime Rescue Operations 

Information, Communication 

et Relations publiques 

Fire cause investigation methods 

Disaster Medicine 

ﺔﻴﻋﺎﻌﺷﻹاو ﺔﻴﺋﺎﻴﻤﻴﻜﻟا ثداﻮﺤﻟا ﺔﻬﺟاﻮﻣ ةرود 

Chemical and Nuclear accidents prevention 

Creation and management of a relief structure for 

refugees, disaster victims or homeless 

Conception et gestion d’un camp 

pour réfugiés, sinistrés et sans abris

Date Location Theme 

31 August 

11 September 

21 - 25 

September 

22 - 25 

September 

28 September 

02 October 

12 - 16 

October 

02 - 06 

November 

02 - 14 

November 

16 - 20 

November 

12 - 30 

December 

Swiss Rescue Troops 





Ministry of Civil Affairs 

(Shangai, China) 



(Ben-Arous, Tunisia) 




University of State Fire Service of 

EMERCOM of Russia 

St. Petersburg, Russian Fed. 



(Lahore, Pakistan) 







Technical Training Courses I and II 

Organisation et gestion en cas de catastrophe 

Urban Disaster Risk Management 

La médecine de catastrophe: 

organisation et coordination des secours 

Sécurité des bâtiments publics 

Fire-safety of oil-producing and oil-refining industry 

Senior Staff Management Course on Civil Defence 

Management and operations leadership 

in a disaster area 

تاﺮﺠﻔﺘﻤﻟا ثداﻮﺣ ﺔﻬﺟاﻮﻤﻟ ﺔﻴﺳﺎﺳﻷا ةروﺪﻟا 

Explosives material accidents 

Programme of ICDO courses 2009

International Civil Defence Journal, Vol. XIX N° 1 , May 2009 

ICDO Training Programme 2009 


ICDO’S REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRE 

Dakar (Senegal), 6-10 April 2009 

« Memento of a civil or military chief, manager or director » 

4

ICDO Training Programme 2009 

Geneva (Switzerland) 

4-8 May 2009 

«Information, Communication and 

Public Relations » 



FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE 

Civil Defence Department 

Training Centre (CECOFOR) 

5 

ICDO’S REGIONAL 

TRAINING CENTER 

Cairo (Egypt), 7-25 March 

2009 

« Risks of accident 

in industrial areas » 

Geneva (Switzerland) 

30 March - 2 April 2009 

« Urban SAR Operations »



1 MARCH 2009 

WORLD CIVIL 

DEFENCE DAY 

The International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO), by 

resolution of its 9 th General Assembly in Geneva, has designated 

1 st March each year for the celebration of a World Civil 

Defence Day. 

This is the birthday on the 1 st March 1972 of the ICDO as 

an intergovernmental organisation. 

The ICDO General Assembly’s aim in establishing this 

World Day is to arouse public awareness on the civil defence 

services’ tasks: safeguarding life, property and the environment. 

The theme for 2009 was: 

Civil defence: preventive information and communication techniques 

6

World Civil Defence Day 2009 



RUSSIAN FEDERATION 

Interview of Mr. Sergei Shaposhnikov, 

Director of Civil Defence Department 

Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil defence, 

Emergencies and Elimination of consequences 

of natural disasters 

(EMERCOM of Russia) 

- I’m not sure our listeners, and especially our younger listeners, have 

a clear idea of just what Civil defence is. 

Sergei Shaposhnikov: Civil defence is a system of measures aimed at 

protecting the population and the material and cultural assets of our 

country, the Russian Federation, from military hostilities, and also 

from emergency situations in peacetime. 

- Older listeners will probably remember how they occasionally had to attend Civil defence sessions, 

where, for example, they had to quickly don a gasmask to have their names ticked off on a list. That was 

usually a pure formality, and few people took it very seriously. Is it still just a formality nowadays? How is 

the civil defence system organized today? 

Sergei Shaposhnikov: That formality is already becoming a thing of the past. Nowadays there are a fair 

number of emergency situations in which our population apply the skills they learned when studying the 

subject of “Basic Life Safety” and the knowledge they have during extra-curricular emergency rescue practical 

training courses, especially at hazardous facilities. 

- You said that the system of civil defence is needed in military and combat situations. But is it needed in 

peacetime? 

Sergei Shaposhnikov: As of today we have civil defence troops which will be transformed this year into 

forces permanently ready to react. They will meet modern technical standards. Of course it is needed. The 

events in South Ossetia last year showed that we have to have a system of protection. Those people who 

took refuge in protective structures, and there were few such structures in South Ossetia, survived to 

emerge safe and sound. The system is necessary. And what about the restoration of the vital supply systems? 

During the first few days personnel from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations worked to 

ensure water and gas supplies, etc. Experience has shown that without that system things just won’t work in 

a state. 

- As you know, a regional training Center of the International Civil Defence Organization is operating at a 

base of the MES Civil Defence Academy. Who receives training there? 

Sergei Shaposhnikov: The center provides training to specialists from countries which are just beginning 

to establish a civil defence or civil protection service. There are quite a few such countries. For the most 

part we train people who have just begun to set up such organizations. 

7




UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 

Sharjah - Abu Dhabi, 1-6 March 2009 

On the occasion of the World Civil Defence Day 2009, the Emirate of Sharjah (UAE) welcomed an 

ICDO delegation, headed by Mr. Nawaf Al-Sleibi, Secretary-General. During this visit, Mr Al-Sleibi participated 

to the conference and exhibition on civil defence organised by the Emirate of Sharjah. This stay 

was also an opportunity for the Secretary-General to meet different personalities of United Arab Emirates 

and outlined the Organisation’s activities in the field of civil defence. 

Mr. Nawaf Al-Sleibi, ICDO Secretary-General, hands over the ICDO 

Medal to H.H. Sheikh Issam bin Saqer Al Qasimi, Office Manager of 

H.H. Ruler of Sharjah. 

Mr. Al-Sleibi welcomed by Mr. Salim Bin Mohamed Al Owais, 

Chairman, Municipalities & Agriculture Affairs Department, 

Government of Sharjah 

8 

Mr. Nawaf Al-Sleibi, and Lt. General Abdullah bin Saif Al-Shaafar, 

Undersecretary, Ministry of Interior of UAE 

From left: Mr. Al-Sleibi with Mr. Humaid Mohd. Al Hudaidi, Director General 

of Sharjah Police and Mr. Issa Waheed Al Serkal, Director General of 

Sharjah Civil Defence.

Mr. Nawaf Al-Sleibi and the ICDO delegation were welcomed at the Red Crescent of 

UAE by Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hamadi, Deputy Secretary-General for Local Affairs; 

Dr. Abdel Karim Bensiali. Adviser International Relations (2 nd from the right) and 

Mrs Fatheia Al Nzari, Manager, First Aid & Community Safety Dept. 

Meeting with Dr. Jassim Moh’d J. Balromaitha, 

Director, Gen. Dept. of Operation, Dubai Police 

General HQ 


Events organised in Sharjah 

9 

Meeting with Lt. Colonel Mohamed Abdulla Al Neaimi, Deputy 

Director, Emergency & Public Safety Department, Abu Dhabi 

From left: Mr. Evgeny Vasiliev, Deputy Secretary-General; Lt. Rashid Mohammad Al Marri, 

Head of Operations Dept., Civil Defence of Sharjah; Mr. Nawaf Al-Sleibi, Secretary-General; 

Sergeant Mutab Madad Binhuwaidin Alkatbi, Director of Operations Department, Civil Defence of 

Sharjah; Mr. Stephane Davin, Legal adviser.




REPUBLIC OF GUINEA 

Celebration of the World Civil Defence Day in Guinea for the second time 

Sunday 1 zt March 2009: Statement by the Minister for Security and Civil 

Defence, Division General Mamadou T. CAMARA, broadcast on the radio 

and television. 

10 

Guinea, along with the other member 

countries to ICDO, celebrated World 

Civil Defence Day on Monday 2 nd 

March 2009 on the theme of “Civil Defence: 

Preventive Information and 

Communication Techniques”. 

Given the importance the Guineans 

have given to the eminent role played 

by ICDO (International Civil Defence 

Organisation) in protecting the lives of 

citizens around the world, this day was 

celebrated on Monday 2 nd March 2009, 

under the patronage of the National 

Government. 

For the first phase of the celebrations, an important statement by Division General Mamadou T. 

CAMARA, Minister for Security and Civil Defence, was broadcast on Guinean radio and television. 

The Minister stressed that the theme chosen this year was a topical response to the difficulties faced by 

many countries in the field of Civil Defence, especially given that thousands of people are exposed to risks 

inherent to development in areas such as urbanisation, industrialisation, transport and natural hazards. 

The second phase was devoted to the actual celebrations of the World Civil Defence Day in three Fire 

and Rescue Service stations (SIS) in the City of Conakry where the fire-fighters gave demonstrations of 

warning operations, as well as the rescue operations performed in the event of road accidents, fires or natural 

disasters. 

Numerous representatives of the local authorities attended these events which attracted many people. 

The ceremonies were organised under the aegis of the Minister for Security and Civil Defence who took 

this opportunity to emphasize the role of the press in the Prevention and Management of Disasters.




REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL 

The Government of Senegal celebrated World Civil Defence Day this year over two days. 

On 1 st March 2009 a ceremony was organised in the town of MBao, in the suburbs of Dakar, with a 

guided tour of the community’s experience in fighting coastal erosion, with the participation of the Speaker 

of Senegal’s National Assembly, the Mayor of Mbao. 

On 2 nd March 2009 the State Minister, Minister for the Interior acting as interim Prime Minister, 

launched the National Disaster and Major Risk Prevention and Mitigation Platform. 

In addition, a capacity building workshop was organised for journalists on disaster coverage on 4, 5 and 

6 March 2009 at the Laguna Beach Hotel in MBodiene Saly. 

11




PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 

The International Civil Defence Day promotional event, jointly organized by Ministry of Civil Affairs of 

the People's Republic of China (MCA), National Civil Air Defense Office and the Beijing Municipal Government, 

was held in Beijing on the morning of March 1, 2009. This represents the first International Civil 

Defence Day promotional event that was ever organized in China since it joined the International Civil Defence 

Organisation (ICDO) in 1992. 

Liang Guanglie, State Councilor and Minister of Ministry of Defence of the People's Republic of China; 

Li Xueju, Minister of MCA; Guo Jinlong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and 

Mayor of Beijing; Qi Jianguo, Assistant to Chief of General Staff and Director of National Civil Air Defense 

Office; Duan Ruiwu, Deputy Commander of Beijing Military Area Command; Huang Wei, Vice 

Mayor of Beijing; and Ding Xiangyang, Vice Mayor of Beijing, attended the event that was organized at 

Chaoyang Park of Chaoyang District, Beijing. 

Themed “Pay Attention to Civil Defence, Live Safely”, the event aims to disseminate the knowledge of 

air defense, disaster prevention and public safety, enhance citizens’ awareness of public safety, improve the 

capability to respond to emergencies, to build a safe environment for the creation of a harmonious society. 

To strengthen the public’s awareness of safety protection and improve their knowledge of and skills in responding 

to disasters, the event has set up emergency disaster relief tents and Red Cross first aid stations on 

site. And advanced emergency rescue equipment for fire fighting, hygiene, transportation, environmental 

protection and civil defence were also brought to the site for the audience. 

Liang Guanglie, Li Xueju and Guo Jinlong gave important speeches respectively, while Chen Qiumin, 

community resident representative from Chaoyang District, read out a letter of advocacy entitled “Pay Attention 

to Civil Defence, Live Safely Together”, and the officials distributed promotional public safety material 

to community residents, examined the emergency rescue equipment and knowledge boards at the 

main exhibition venue, and visited a community civil defence educational center in Wang Jing, Chaoyang 

District. 

Approx. 1,000 audiences including officials from MCA, National Civil Air Defense Office, Beijing Municipal 

Government and Beijing Garrison as well as general public from all walks of life participated in this 

event. 

In his speech, Guo Jinlong pointed out that the organization of the “Pay Attention to Civil Defence, Live 

Safely” promotional event has great significance to the dissemination of the knowledge of the disaster prevention 

and reduction, public safety and civil defence, and the improvement of the citizen's awareness of 

public safety and capability to respond to emergencies. Mayor Guo emphasized that civil defence is an important 

component in the construction of the public safety system for the capital. During the recent years, 

based on the requirement of “People First, Civil Defence for the People” and pursuing the goal of a “Safe 

Capital”, Beijing Municipal Government has comprehensively strengthened civil defence efforts, resulting 

in constant improvement of emergency management system, strengthening of the construction of civil defence 

facilities, enhancement of professional rescue capability, expansion of volunteer groups, and obvious 

improvement of citizen’s safety protection capability, playing a critical role in the capital’s efforts in disaster 

prevention and reduction and effective response to public safety incidents. 

12



Mayor Guo required that we should carry on the spirit of the Olympic Games, consolidate the results 

from “Safe Olympics” and strengthen the “Safe Beijing” initiative. He said we should strengthen the construction 

and management of civil defence infrastructure, organize publicity, educational and training activities, 

actively communicate with international civil defence organizations, and comprehensively improve 

the city’s capability in disaster prevention and reduction by relying on technology, governance by law and 

joint efforts of all citizens of the city, to create a safe urban environment to maintain stable and rapid development 

of the capital’s economy and harmonious society, so as to celebrate China's 60 th birthday with outstanding 

achievement. 

Li Xueju said in his speech that Beijing Municipal Government has made considerable contribution to 

the enablement of safe living and harmonious society by putting a great emphasis on and solidly driving the 

disaster prevention and reduction work. The organization of the public educational event, on the occasion 

of the International Civil Defence Day, will help to strengthen the society’s recognition of the disaster prevention 

and reduction work, improve the public’s awareness of the disaster prevention and reduction, enhance 

the overall disaster reduction capability of all government levels, and reduce to the greatest extent the 

losses caused by disasters. He said we should drive the disaster prevention and reduction work and comprehensively 

improve our overall prevention skills based on the Scientific Outlook on Development. 

Liang Guanglie required in his speech that we should recognize the importance of civil defence work, 

anticipate adversity in time of prosperity, adopt the Scientific Outlook on Development and build a civil 

defence system that is led by the government and participated by all citizens, to provide strong support to 

disaster prevention and reduction. We should drive the establishment of the civil defence organizations, 

emergency and disaster relief forces and various protection measures. And we should prioritize disaster response, 

strengthen the building of emergency response capability, improve emergency mechanisms and 

plans, train emergency rescue teams and reserve emergency supplies, to reduce to the greatest extent damages 

caused by public emergency incidents. We should further strengthen the coordination between military, 

police and civilian sectors and comprehensively improve our overall capability to prevent various disasters, 

to create an even more harmonious new life. The officials highly praised the civil defence system’s 

practice of creating an educational venue that has incorporated the functions of emergency command, education 

and supplies reservation by leveraging the civil air defence facilities. 

On the morning of March 1, 18 district and county governments of Beijing also organized International 

Civil Defence Day promotional activities. 

About 20 domestic media, including Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, China Central Television 

(CCTV), People's Daily Online, Beijing Daily and Beijing TV Station, extensively reported on this event. 

13



Diplomas Award 


14 

LEBANON 

Meeting between students and 

civil defence professional


Arrival of the Ministry for Civil service and Employment 



REPUBLIC OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE 

19 th World Civil Defence Day in Côte d’Ivoire 

Prevention is at the heart of our concerns. 

This year the 19 th edition, on the theme of “Preventive 

Information and Communication Techniques”, focused on 

using communication techniques in the prevention of risks 

and disasters. 

The celebrations took place during an open house day 

at the National Civil Defence Office (ONPC). 

After several years of truce, Côte d’Ivoire has started 

celebrating World Civil Defence Day once again. Just like 

many other countries, Côte d’Ivoire commemorated this 

19 th edition of World Civil Defence day. 

At the National Civil Defence Office (ONPC) in Côte 

d’Ivoire, an open house day was organised on 2 nd March 

2009 for the occasion. “Preventive Information and Communication 

Techniques” was the theme chosen this year 

by the International Civil Defence Organisation. It is a 

very topical theme given the recurring disasters such as 

fires in markets, institutions and homes that occur in Côte 

d’Ivoire. 

The Director of the ONPC, Commander Fiacre Fagnidi 

Kili, sees this theme as an opportunity to raise awareness 

amongst the population. 

This can be done by teaching people prevention techniques 

and explaining how they should react in the event 

of a hazard or disaster. He believes that the implementation 

of various communication strategies can help to reach 

a greater percentage of the population. 

He also stressed that the population and decisionmaking 

bodies have a very limited knowledge of civil defence, 

making it difficult for him to carry out the missions 

that are assigned to him. 

15




This heartfelt appeal made by the Director 

of the ONPC was heard by the 

Minister for the Interior, Mr Désiré Tagro, 

who asked to be represented at the 

open house day by his civil service colleague 

Mr Hubert Oulaye. 

Mr Oulaye read a government statement in which the 

Minister reaffirmed his desire to build an emergency relief 

centre in each district and a regional civil defence branch 

in each administrative region. 

The government wants to take things a step further by 

becoming more involved in the dissemination of information 

documents to the population. For, as stressed in the 

official statement, “when they are well informed, citizens 

are better prepared for ensuring their own safety in the 

event of major hazards”. 

The ceremony on March 2 nd was also an opportunity for 

the ONPC to pay tribute to its international partners, particularly 

the International Civil Defence Organisation 

(ICDO) and France who have donated aid equipment. 

ICDO contributed by sending a container of sanitary 

equipment and underwater intervention equipment. 

France’s donation consisted of three booster units. 

This intervention equipment was presented to the Military 

Fire Fighters Group (GSPM) by the Minister for Civil 

Service and Employment, Mr Hubert Oulaye. 

The highlight of the open house day was the visits of 

the stands set up so that the dignitaries and members of the 

public to truly grasp the missions carried out by the Civil 

Defence services. They covered themes such as risk prevention, 

training and relief operations. The idea was to 

better understand the work of the ONPC. 

It is important to note that the ONPC authorities received 

the support of the Director General of the National 

Police, the Director General in charge of decentralisation 

as well as the Directors of the OSER (Road Safety Office) 

and SAMU (Emergency Medical Assistance Service). 

16




REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 

One is informed, is protected 

Information campaigns launched in Armenia 

on occasion of World Civil Defense Day 

As we know this year the World Civil Defense Day was devoted to preventive information and communication 

techniques. The “Emergency Channel” Information Center of Armenian Rescue Service is implementing 

various awareness programs for over 10 years on a regular basis. The celebration of World Civil 

Defense Day was not an exception. The overall goal of all information campaigns launched by “Emergency 

Channel” is informing the public of major risks that are likely to develop where they live and explaining 

how they should react to them which in fact improves the level of preparedness and thus reduces human 

and material losses in case of emergencies. One is informed, is protected – this is the motto of Emergency 

Channel as informed citizens create safe societies. 

A range of video films and social ads on the topic of natural and man-made disasters were prepared on 

the occasion of World Civil Defense Day. A press-conference for representatives of mass-media was held 

on 1 st of March. With highlighting the theme of the day which is “Civil Defense: preventive information 

and communications technique”, the activity of “Emergency Channel” steered to public awareness was presented. 

During the press-conference the prepared video films and clips were presented to the audience. The 

prepared films and clips, as well as printed materials, such as posters, booklets, leaflets, books, calendars 

and etc. were provided to community administrations, schools and TV channels of all the regions of Armenia. 

Social ads are also available in “Emergency Channel” web-site : 

http://www.emergency.am/en/index 

On the occasion of World Civil Defense Day firefighters-rescuers of Armenian Rescue Service organized 

explanatory and demonstrative works for schoolchildren of different schools. 

17




HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN 

Jordanian civil defence events organised during the celebration of the World Civil Defence Day 2009 

(“civil defence: preventive information and communication techniques”): 

1. Preparing and broadcasting a television series including clarification of the concept of the slogan of this 

year and means of achieving it. 

2. The establishment of a major ceremony in the building of the Directorate General in which was invited 

media professionals from all means of Local media in order to consolidate the already existing relationship 

between their media institutions and civil defence. 

3. Broadcasting of a documentary film for a period of (15) fifteen-minutes dealing with the evolution of 

Civil Defence and the importance of preventive procedures and the role of media in realizing the concept of 

a culture of prevention. 

4. A special issue of the Journal of Civil Defence on this occasion. 

5. Print, production and distribution of a special Poster slogan which embodies the celebration of this year. 

6. Intensification of awareness programs in all media. 

7. Educational lectures given by officers of the civil defence specialists in the field of preventive training in 

all the governorates of the Kingdom. 

18


REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA 

Conference organised in the Emergency Management Department (Ministry of Internal Affairs) 

Colonel Khalid Salem AL ABSI, 

Director of Civil Defence 

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN 



19




20

Observer / Member States 



GAZA STRIP 

Palestine, 27 January-1 February 2009 

From January 27 to February 1 st 2009, Dr. Saad Nounou, head 

of the disaster medicine project and Mr Dedo, expert, travelled to 

the Gaza Strip (Palestine) in order to report back to the Secretary 

General of ICDO on the damage incurred by Palestinian civil 

defence forces and give an estimate of reconstruction costs. 

21




As at 31 January 2009 

• ~ 1300 deceased persons 

• 5 500 injured (majority of women and children) 

• civil defence stations (total number:16): 8 destroyed and 4 damaged 

• Staff of civil defence: 13 died et 24 injured 

• Civil defence material: 65% intervention vehicles are broken down. 

22




GAZA STRIP 

Humanitarian assistance 

At the end of January, the ICDO Permanent Secretariat provided a humanitarian assistance for the population 

of Gaza Strip. 

A container including medical goods has been sent by ship to Egypt before its distribution in Gaza Strip. 

23



Humanitarian Food Assistance in Afghanistan 


PARTNERSHIP EMERCOM OF RUSSIA - ICDO 

24 

An active cooperation 

As from this year, EMERCOM of Russia and ICDO have decided to diversify their joint humanitarian 

operations. In this way, EMERCOM of Russia, under the umbrella of ICDO, has just finished the shipment 

of food aid to the afghan population by train through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 

During three months, 17,875 tons of flour transported by 269 wagons on more 3500 km handed over to 

the Afghani authorities in Khayrathon (train station at the Afghani border). 

Without the support and the cooperation of the civil defence services of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan 

and Afghanistan, this operation would not have been possible. 

Handshake between Mr. Alex Zelenyuck, « EMERCOM 

Agency » (left) and Mr. Katiev Shams, representative of Ministry 

of Agriculture - Afghanisatn (right).




PARTNERSHIP EMERCOM OF RUSSIA - ICDO 

Demining in Serbia / Level II 

An active cooperation 

A second demining programme in Serbia, planned over the next four years (2009-2012), was 

signed in March 2009 between the ICDO Secretary General and representatives of EMER- 

COM Russia. This project has started in April with the support of DOK-ING Company 

which is one of the international leaders in the production of mechanical assets used for mine 

and UXO clearance. 

From left: Mr. O. Belaventsev, Director of EMERCOM Agency; Mr. A. Mordovsky, 

Director of EMERCOM-Demining; Mr. Al-Sleibi, ICDO Secretary- 

General; Mr. Vasiliev, ICDO Deputy Secretary-General 

For more information on the international operations of the EMERCOM of Russia, please visit the 

following website: www.mchs.gov.ru 

25 

From left: Mr. Vasiliev; Mr. Al-Sleibi; Mr. Vjekoslav Majetíc, 

General Manager (DOK-ING) and Mr. Konstantin Darmaniyan, 

Technical advisor (DOK-ING).


International Cooperation 


GENEVA CENTRE FOR SECURITY POLICY 

Geneva (Switzerland), 31 March 2009 

On 31 March 2009, the GCSP welcomed a delegation from the International 

Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO). The delegation was headed 

by the Organisation's Secretary General, Brigadier Nawaf Al Sleibi and 

included his assistant Ms. Valérie Loh, as well as Mr. Jean-Charles 

Dédo. The high-level delegation was welcomed by Dr. Fred Tanner, Director 

of the GCSP, Ms. Katharina Vögeli, Deputy Director, Col (GS) 

William Gargiullo, chargé d'affaires, Col (GS) André Zumstein, chargé 

d'affaires, as well as Mr. Daniel Pfister, Assistant to the Academic Dean 

and Project Coordinator. The aim of the visit comprised the exchange of 

information on mandates, structures and activities of both institutions 

and to explore potential areas of cooperation. 

The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) is an international foundation that was established in 

1995 under Swiss law to "promote the building and maintenance of peace, security and stability". The 

GCSP was founded by the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, in cooperation 

with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, as a Swiss contribution to Partnership for Peace (PfP). 

The GCSP is engaged in four areas of activities: Training in international peace and security, with a special 

focus on the globalising security environment; Research; Conferences; and Dialogue. 

From left to right: Col (GS) André Zumstein, Mrs. Valérie Loh, Mr. Nawaf Al Sleibi, Mr. Daniel Pfister, 

Col (GS) William Gargiullo and Mr. Jean-Charles Dédo 

26

International Cooperation 



ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF CENTRAL AFRICAN STATES (ECCAS) 

Geneva (Switzerland), 15 April 2009 

Mr. Nawaf Al-Sleibi, ICDO Secretary-General has welcomed a delegation from the Economic 

Community of Central African States (ECCAS) headed by Mr. Roger Tchoungui, Deputy Secretary-General. 

On this occasion, the Secretary General outlined the Organisation’s activities, specifically its 

action in favour of Member States in the field of the international cooperation and the promotion of the disaster 

prevention. At the end of the meeting, Mr Al-Sleibi congratulated Mr. Tchoungui for the activities 

conducted by ECCAS and hoped there would be closer cooperation between the two Organisations. 

From left: Mr. Nawaf Al-Sleibi, ICDO Secretary-General and Mr. Roger Tchoungui, ECCAS Deputy Secretary-General 

From left: Mr. Charles-Elie Mbonguy Doumambila, Senior Environment 

and Natural Resources Coordinator and Mr Marcel Mikala, Humanitarian 

Affairs Manager, Regional focal point for Central Africa, UN-OCHA. 

27 

ECCAS Member States 

• Angola 

• Burundi 

• Cameroon 

• Central African Republic 

• Gabon 

• Congo 

• Democratic Republic of Congo 

• Equatorial Guinea 

• Sao Tome and Principe 

• Chad


Visit of delegation of Member States 

of the International Civil Defence Organization 

to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season 

General Directorate of Civil Defence 

Saudi Arabia 

An integrated program of work has been prepared for members of the delegation to visit the headquarters 

of the General Directorate of Civil Defense and holy shrines, centers and field teams and support 

teams and the operations room in order to view the equipment and the preparations for the pilgrimage 

season. 

28

The first day 


The whole members of the delegation have moved from their residence in the city of Jeddah, according 

to the program prepared for the visit to the holy shrines, precisely to the Command of Mina area to meet 

with the Commander of Mina Civil Defense and its General Staff and the delegation were received in the 

headquarters and heard a detailed explanation of the command plans and preparations undertaken to face 

the requirements of the situation to serve the guests of the Sacred House of God and of the mechanisms and 

models of equipment used by the teams and the mechanisms of the Civil Defense. 

On the same day was the transition to the operations room according to the program agenda and the 

delegation was received by the Director of the operations room and his aides and a number of officers, individuals 

and representatives of relevant ministries participating in the operations room in Mina. The Director 

of the operations room gave a full explanation of the role of operations rooms and how to receive the communications 

and the transfer of information to field teams and the follow-up to Holy shrines important sites 

through the cameras television. 

The Second day 

The members of the delegation paid a visit to the command centers and meet the Commandant of the 

Arafat Civil Defense and his general staff and have been listening to the detailed plans and command 

preparations to serve the guests of the Sacred House of God on the day of Arafat. Then the members of the 

delegation left to visit the area of attribution to see the manpower and machinery that support teams deployed 

in the holy shrines and to view the support and supply machinery of these groups. 

After that all members went to the Air Defense Command to meet the Commandant of civil aviation and 

civil defense, and his pilots, where they have listen to the role played by the Civil Air Defence in the Hajj 

(pilgrimage) and other tasks.


The Third day 

The delegation visited the operations room of the Holy City, where the Director of Civil Defense 

sacred capital has given a full explanation of the role of the operations room and functions entrusted to the 

department of the Holy City during the pilgrimage season to serve the pilgrims. The delegation expressed 

its acknowledgements, thanks and admiration for the efforts undertaken by the Civil Defence. 

Then, the delegation moved to the headquarters of the General Directorate of Civil Defense to meet 

with His Excellency the General-Director of the Civil Defence, Lieutenant-General Sa’ad bin Abdullah Al- 

Tuwaijri, who welcomed the delegation and presented them with his explanation about the functions and 

duties of civil defense. The meeting has been interesting and enjoyable in which His Excellency the General-Director 

of Civil Defense responded to questions of the delegation which, in turn, expressed their 

thanks and appreciation to His Excellency and to all employees of the Civil Defense. The delegation appreciated 

the warm hospitality and the information given that was truly the pride of the men in civil defense. 

Civil Defense guests performed Hajj (pilgrimage) as guests of His Royal Highness, the Minister of the Interior. 

After, everyone returned to their home countries. 

30


31


Natural catastrophes 

and man-made disasters in 2008: 

North America and Asia suffer heavy losses 

Summary 

Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd 

Zurich, Switzerland 

In 2008, natural catastrophes and man-made disasters caused 240 500 fatalities and led to economic 

losses of USD 269bn. The cost to property insurers was USD 52.5bn, making 2008 one of the costliest 

catastrophe years in history. The extent of the damage once again revealed the need to introduce improved 

prevention and post disaster management practices. It also reaffirmed that the lack of insurance cover, particularly 

in the emerging markets, continues to leave many people vulnerable after a catastrophic event 

occurs. 

Of the 311 catastrophic events in 2008, 137 were considered natural catastrophes, while the remaining 

174 were man-made disasters. 

Most of the 240 500 people who died in catastrophe 

events in 2008 lived in Asia. Tropical 

cyclones, typhoons and an earthquake claimed 

more than 228 400 lives in the region. 

• In early May, cyclone Nargis caused more than 

138 000 fatalities in Myanmar 

• A May earthquake measuring 7.9 on the moment 

magnitude scale devastated China's Sichuan 

region, killing over 87 400 

32 

• 1400 people died after typhoon Fengshen 

hit the Philippines, including 800 

people who lost their lives aboard the 

ferry MV Princess of the Stars. 

Total damage to the economy 

amounted to approximately USD 

269bn in 2008, the highest total loss 

since 2005, when a series of hurricanes 

led to losses of USD 262bn. Most of 

the 2008 losses could be attributed to 

the earthquake that struck China in May, which 

cost USD 124bn. 

With insured property catastrophe losses of USD 

52.5bn, 2008 was one of the costliest years since 

the hurricane-prone years 2004 and 2005. Of the 

USD 52.5bn in insured losses, USD 44.7bn were 

due to natural catastrophes, while the remaining 

USD 7.8bn were related to major man-made disasters.

Victims 

The events which caused the biggest insurance 

claims were related to storms: 

• In the US, hurricanes Ike and Gustav resulted 

in insured losses estimated at USD 20bn and 

USD 4bn respectively, including offshore damages 

and the claims covered under the National 

Flood Insurance Program. 

• Tornadoes and thunderstorms in the US in May 

caused losses of USD 1.3bn and USD 1.1bn respectively 

• Europe was hit by winter storm Emma in 

March and storm depression Hilal in May. Insured 

losses were estimated at USD 1.3bn and 

USD 1bn, respectively. 

• Snow storms and freezing rain struck China in 

early 2008 costing USD 1.3bn. 

Date 


The 20 worst catastrophes in terms of victims 2008 

Of the USD 7.8bn in damage from man-made 

disasters, more than two-thirds (USD 53bn) were 

triggered by large-scale industrial fires and 

losses in the energy sector. Losses in aviation 

and space insurance, however, were low in comparison. 

Given the rapid economic development of the 

Asia Pacific region, natural catastrophes are having 

more of an impact on the insurance industry. 

Moreover, many parts of Asia, especially along 

the coastlines, are highly exposed to natural hazards 

such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, 

tropical cyclones, f1oods, hail, snow and thunderstorms. 

While Japan and Australia have 

dominated the Asian insurance loss statistics in 

the past, China is catching up due to its massive, 

fast-growing economy and increasing insurance 

penetration. 

Event Country 

138 373 02.05.2008 Cyclone Nargis devastates Irrawaddy and Yangon Divisions; floods Myanmar (Burma), Bay of Bengal 

87 449 12.05.2008 Sichuan Earthquake (Mw 7.9), aftershocks China 

1 413 19.06.2008 Typhoon Fengshen/No 6, winds up to 140km/h, heavy rain Philippines, China 

1 300 05.01.2008 Heavy snowfall Afghanistan 

950 10.06.2008 Floods caused by monsoon rain India 

500 01.09.2008 Hurricane Hanna, winds up to 130km/h, floods Haiti, Turks et Caicos Island 

300 28.11.2008 Clashes over disputed election results Nigeria 

300 29.10.2008 Earthquake (Mw 64), aftershock (Mw 6.2) Pakistan 

275 18.12.2008 Boats carrying illegal immigrants disappear Bay of Bengal, Myanmar (Burma) 

271 08.09.2008 Mudslide causes dam to burst at Tashan ore mine- China 

261 17.02.2008 Tropical cyclone Ivan with winds up to 230km/h Madagascar 

230 04.01.2008 Cold wave India 

230 19.09.2008 Floods caused by heavy rain India 

224 30.09.2008 Stampede at Navaratri festival India 

208 08.08.2008 Typhoon Kammuri/No 9 with winds up to 100km/h Vietnam, Chinia, Laos, Thailand 

190 26.112008 Cyclone Nisha, heavy rain, floods India, Sri Lanka 

180 24.10.2008 Floods caused by heavy rain, tropical storm Yemen 

180 15.08.2008 Floods caused by heavy rain India, Bangladesh, Nepal 

172 26.11.2008 Attack on two luxury hotels and other facilities in Mumbai India 

168 01.05.2008 Poisoning due to alcohol laced with methanol India 

33


In Asia, insurance protection against these 

risks has remained at very low levels. As a consequence, 

individuals, corporations and governments 

must bear the uninsured catastrophe 

losses. Government protection schemes, which 

have been successfully implemented in other 

regions in recent years, could lead to better catastrophe 

protection in Asia. 

Public private partnerships represent yet another 

option for strengthening the resilience of 

Asian countries to financial shocks arising from 

natural disasters. 

Reinsurance continues to play a key role in 

absorbing catastrophe losses. 

Reference: 

Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd 

(Swiss Re), Sigma No 2/2009 

Sigma is available on Swiss Re’s website : www.swissre.com/sigma 

34 

In catastrophe intensive years such as 2005, 

reinsurance effectively protected insurers against 

catastrophe losses. Based on extrapolations of 

Swiss Re's book of business, 12% of direct insurers 

- representing 3 2% of gross premiums 

written - received payments from reinsurers in 

2005 for natural catastrophe losses that were 

equal to or exceeded 100% of their shareholders' 

equity. 

About 23% of direct insurers - which accounted 

for 9.3% of gross premiums written - 

received payments from reinsurers that accounted 

for more than one-third of their equity 

capital.



of the EMERCOM of Russia 

A source of managers for the Russian Emergency Services 

The Civil Defence Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation was 

established following the decision no. 968 of December 9, 1992 of the Government of the Russian Federation, 

on the basis of: 

• 37 Central Upper-Level Training and Qualification Courses for the ex-USSR Civil Defence Key 

Personnel 

• 312 Civil Defence Courses of the Russian Federation (RSFSR). 

The education process is organized through 5 

Academy Faculties (Key Personnel Department, 

Civil Specialists Training Department, Command 

and Engineering Department, Distance 

Learning Department and Special Department 

for Foreign Military Personnel Training) and in 2 

Institutes (the Development Institute and the 

Specialized Training Institute). 

The Academy offers higher professional education 

programs for the following 6 specialties: 

• Protection in Emergency Situations, 

• State and Municipal Management, 

• Applied Mathematics, 

• Civil Defense Command and Staff Tactical 

and Operational Strategies, 

• Civil Defense Tactical and Operational 

Engineering and 

• Tactical Engineering for Civil Defense 

Forces. 

35 

The Development Institute of the Ministry of 

Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation 

offers additional professional education programsgrams, 

including 19 programs of professional 

retraining and qualification improvement 

for the key personnel and specialists in the sphere 

of civil defense and protection during emergency 

situations. 

Postgraduate and advanced studies (including 

Doctorate, Master's and specialized courses) are 

available for 10 specialties. All educational programs 

are practice-based and include training in 

structural subdivisions of Emergency Situations 

of the Russian Federation. 

The quality teaching staff of the Academy organizing 

and supervising educational activities numbers 

206 (including candidates of sciences and associate 

professors - 127, doctors of sciences and 

professors - 24).


Research projects in the Academy are planned 

and carried out in 10 scientific fields. 24 scientific 

schools have been established to deal with problems 

related to protection of people and territories 

from natural and man-made disasters. 

The scientific research over the past 5 years 

resulted in 27 monographs, 975 research papers, 

14 compilations of materials from different conferences, 

etc. 

Over the 2003-2008 period 146 research projects 

were realized in the Academy and 6 grants 

were received from different organizations to 

carry out scientific research and to publish monographs 

and manuals. 

The Academy offers opportunities and facilities 

for pure and applied research and development. 

For its inventive activity and innovatory 

projects the Academy has received 12 patents and 

utility model certificates. A number of inventions 

were exhibited at some All-Russian and international 

expositions. 

The Academy has organized 12 conferences 

(including 2 international conferences). It is a 

central institution of higher education with an 

open competition for the best research work in 

natural, technical and humanitarian sciences for 

the students of other institutions of higher education 

of the Russian Federation in the section No. 

32 “Safety in Emergency Situations”. 

Educational programs in the Academy comprise 

both traditional and active learning techniques 

and approaches with up-to-date technical 

means and computer technologies. 

There are 2 crisis management learning centers 

(CSMC), each of which is equipped with 

computers with local network access, state-of-the 

-art audio and visual teaching aids and equipment, 

integrated video conference systems, special 

telephone hardware and other means used to 

organize control center hotline training activities, 

command and staff training and crisis management 

simulation exercises for the following specialties: 

Civil Defense Command and Staff Tactical 

and Operational Strategies, State and Municipal 

Management, Protection in Emergency Situation 

and Applied Mathematics. 

Furthermore, teaching in the Academy is conducted 

with the use of special software developed 

with the assistance of its own graduate students in 

Applied Mathematics. 

36


37


All departments of the Academy take active 

roles in studying, project and graduation paper 

activities with the application of specialized software 

systems. 

The Academy deploys multimedia educational 

systems for all major disciplines both for 

individual (individual tasks) and group learning 

in media-equipped classrooms and lecture halls. 

Besides, the Academy is now implementing a 

distance education project. 

Students and trainees of the Academy were 

engaged in recovery operations after explosions 

of apartment houses in Moscow, rescue operations 

at the site of roof collapse of the Transvaal 

Aqua Park. They also participated in humanitarian 

mission trips to the Republic of Chechnya, ex 

-Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. 

Most trainees and students of the Academy 

who took part in such rescue and humanitarian 

operations received awards from the Government 

and governmental departments. Practical 

experience obtained in search and rescue operations 

and other emergency activities is extensively 

used in teaching process by educational 

research staff. 

The Academy promotes international cooperation 

in education offering courses for students 

and postgraduate students from both CIS and 

non-CIS countries on a contractual basis. It has 

66 foreign students and 9 postgraduates from 8 

foreign countries. 157 students and 12 postgraduates 

graduated over the assessment period. 

Of these, 9 students defended their theses. 

The Academy team has implemented the following 

international joint research and educational 

projects: 

• education within the framework of the 

Partnership for Peace program; 

• participation in Russian-Spanish advanced 

training in non-detonating destruction 

of explosives with the assistance 

of the International Demining 

Training Center of the Military Engineer 

Academy of the Kingdom of 

Spain; 

• testing of a distance education system 

under the REMIFOR project dealing 

with information technologies for risk 

management at the facilities of the fire 

school in Draguignan, France; 

38 

• agreement upon the intentions to enhance 

the bilateral cooperation of the 

Ministry of Emergency Situations of 

the Russian Federation with the Ministry 

of the Interior of Finland, headed by 

the Senior Officer of the International 

Cooperation Division of the Department 

for the Rescue Services Timo 

Virtanen, in the field of the protection 

of people and territories during emergency 

situations and specialist training; 

• participation in a project aimed at creating 

mobile water treatment and purification 

installations carried out in Montevideo 

(Uruguay), inspection of water treatment 

and purification systems; 

• agreement upon intentions to enhance 

the bilateral cooperation between the 

Ministry of Emergency Situations of 

the Russian Federation and the Rescue 

Service College of the Kingdom of 

Sweden (in Revinge), with the Department 

of Fire Safety Engineering at 

Lund Technical University in the field 

of natural and man-made disaster prevention 

and recovery and specialist 

training. 

The Civil Protection Academy is a rapidly 

developing institution preparing personnel for 

the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian 

Federation and the Ministries of Emergency 

Situations of the CIS states on a high scientific 

and methodical level and meeting modern demands.

The Strategy of Disasters Management 

and Confrontation in Egypt 


Director of the General Administration of Civil Protection 

The strategy of disasters confrontation in 

Egypt was established in order to prevent and 

relief from their impacts. It is also based on 

community preparedness and direction regarding 

the economic, social and psychological aspects 

with the aim of protecting lives and properties 

subject to the threat of disasters. 

This is conducted through a well-planned 

and determined system in which many designated 

Ministries and some of the scientific research 

institutions and universities participate. 

Each of these bodies has a special and significant 

role as far as planning, interference or confrontation 

operations are concerned. 

Due to their destructive consequences, it is 

necessary to forecast disasters and their impacts, 

when possible, and take the necessary prevention 

and relief procedures directed to endangered 

populations as well as effectively respond to 

such disasters. In this framework, various bodies 

should set the plans related to preparedness programs 

and the necessary arrangements to confront 

disasters and relief their impacts as much 

as possible. 


39 

© Jasmine Syed 

The Meaning of Civil Protection: 

It is a set of means and procedures which aim 

to provide protection against natural and manmade 

disasters, relief their impacts as well as 

coordinate efforts to confront such dangers. 

These procedures aim as well to help vital 

Government facilities to maintain performing 

their duties, taking the appropriate procedures 

and precautions to protect lives, public and private 

properties. Civil protection includes also 

interference in disaster situations. 

Civil Defense Authority was established in 

1953, (which is called now General Administration 

for Civil Protection), as one of the most important 

bodies affiliated to the Ministry of Interior. 

Its duty is to protect lives, public and private 

properties, vital installations as well as 

counter natural and man-made disasters. 

The specialties of the General Administration 

for Civil Protection are governed by laws, executive 

regulations and Ministerial decrees.


Fields, Activities and Procedures 

of Civil Protection in Egypt 

Civil protection is a mechanism set to implement 

a certain means and procedures with the 

aim of providing protection against natural, industrial 

and military threats. These procedures 

also aim to relief the impacts of such threats, 

coordinate efforts to confront them, help public 

facilities maintain their duties as well as set the 

appropriate procedures and precautions to protect 

lives, public and private properties under all 

circumstances. 

There are several fields and activities related 

to civil protection in Egypt to deal with all kinds 

of disasters (natural – man-made). These activities 

aim at achieving security, constant development 

and securing investments in the country 

through (fire-fighting – rescue – securing explosives) 

as follows: 

First: Fire-Fighting 

A) Protection: 

The General Administration for Civil Protection 

and its geographic branches are designated with 

putting safety conditions to public buildings and 

facilities, vital installations and touristic, private, 

industrial, trade and service facilities to protect 

them from dangers of fire and other types of 

threats. This is accomplished through inspecting 

these buildings and facilities in order to ascertain 

that safety conditions are applied with the use of 

necessary equipment, and that stuff members are 

well-trained to use such equipment. 

B) Fire Fighting: 

Civil protection forces are assigned to fight all 

types of fire accidents through the spread stations 

across the country. These stations and fire 

brigades are supported with fire engines and the 

various extinguishing materials (foam – chemical 

powder – gases), in addition to water taps for 

fire extinguishing in the cities, villages, industrial 

compounds and newly established urban 

zones. 

Second: Land Rescue 

Civil Protection Administration is designated 

also with dealing with all types of accidents of 

partial and complete collapse of buildings, road 

accidents, earthquakes, floods, collapses and 

other accidents. 

40 

These tasks are carried out by rescue teams deployed 

in all fire stations and equipped with the 

necessary tools and equipment to search for people 

missing under ruins, in addition to cutting, 

pulling, lifting tools, wiretapping and photographing 

as well as other necessary equipment. 

Moreover, there are police dogs units for search 

and detection of bodies and persons alive under 

the ruins. These units are provided by the K9 

Department at the Police Academy. 

Third: River Rescue 

River Rescue Department and stations affiliated 

to the General Administration for Civil Protection 

are designated with securing the water surface 

of the River Nile and the lakes spread in 

some governorates. This task is carried out by 

river rescue units equipped with fire fighting and 

rescue boats, water motorcycles, diving gear as 

well as the rapid rescue network (SOS). These 

teams respond to calls for help from any vessel 

with the aim of protecting tourist and economic 

activities in the River Nile. 

Fourth: Explosives 

Modern technological devices can be best utilized 

in eliminating dangers resulting from the 

use of explosives in terrorist actions that pose an 

eminent threat to the whole society. 

Such devices include explosives detectors used 

for detection of hidden explosives (traps) as well 

as early preparedness equipment. Police dogs 

also play a vital role in explosives detection due 

to its high abilities and qualities in this field. Police 

dogs are very reliable in cases that require 

precise results. Some of the aforementioned devices 

detect and disable bombs. Devices for detecting 

or dealing with explosives might vary 

according to the types and data of the explosive 

charge. 

Civil protection departments provide training for 

their stuff in order to be introduced to the latest 

scientific methods and practice using the latest 

techniques and equipment that guarantee safety 

when dealing with explosive charges. This is 

manifested in providing training courses in the 

field of dealing with explosives at General Administration 

for Civil Protection. Thus, the role 

and affectivity of civil protection system become 

more evident and clear as far as securing buildings, 

facilities, strategic, vital installations and 

VIPs against the danger of explosives is concerned.

Disaster Management and 

Confrontation Planning 

Planning means Governmental systems preparedness 

to disasters confrontation according to 

the specialties and capabilities of each organization. 

The role and task of each organization is 

determined in coordination with the other organizations. 

Many organizations participate in executing 

disaster confrontation plans, including Governmental 

and Non-Governmental organizations. 

This process includes as well creating scenarios 

for implementing previously set plans and the 

necessary training to execute these plans under 

the supervision of decision makers with the purpose 

of providing the appropriate capabilities 

and setting alternative solutions when possible. 

Since the events and results of disasters could 

be very surprising, shocking and quick, decision 

makers should be flexible enough in order to 

achieve the best utilization of the inputs of confrontation 

plans with the aim of dealing with the 

status quo. 

This process is conducted in the light of the 

following elements: 

1. Setting the general structural framework 

entitled with disaster confrontation. 

2. The role of each organization. 

3. Coordination among bodies participating 

in confrontation plans. 

4. Joint training operations and participation 

in scenarios related to intervention operations 

according to various types of threats. 

The main Governmental structure is based on 

Ministries and bodies responsible for providing 

various services to citizens in order to render 

public facilities able to provide their services for 

citizens. Thus, it became a necessity for these 

bodies to intervene in extraordinary circumstances 

such as disasters. In this case, each body 

plays a different role according to its specialty or 

the services it offers. 

Intervention in disastrous situations is not 

limited only to Governmental bodies. NGOs and 

local communities providing public services, 

such as the Red Crescent Society, can also give 

assistance in emergency situations. 


41 

Planning Objectives 

Planning aims at setting the best methods of 

disasters confrontation in the framework of the 

previously determined dangers and how to deal 

with such dangers. This process should determine 

whether such confrontation would be restricted 

to the Government capabilities or the 

matter would require asking for foreign aid. 

The objectives of planning depend mainly on 

the following elements: 

• Permanent preparedness for the confrontation 

of potential disasters utilizing 

all services and precautions when 

required. 

• Initial coordination among the designated 

bodies and civil protection authorities 

in order to identify their roles 

and methods of cooperation among 

them. 

• Prioritizing the necessary instant procedures 

to be taken in order to confront 

disasters, eliminate their impacts and 

recover the natural course of life. 

• Setting alternative plans to be carried 

out in a way that achieves full control 

over the situation if main plans fail to 

be executed. 

Planning and preparedness goes through 

three main stages as follows: 

First: Stages of Preparedness (pre-disaster stage): 

Identify types of potential disasters, sources of 

dangers and vulnerable sites. 

Analyze possible dangers, expectations and problems. 

Provide disaster management rooms (main– 

substitute "if possible"), collecting and building 

databases and communication systems. 

Provide and organize (human–financial) capabilities. 

Forecast disasters and provide necessary warning 

systems. 

Set main and alternative plans and scenarios and 

coordinate among the competent authorities. 

Conduct necessary training to rescue operations 

(preparing rescue teams). 

Raise public awareness and adopt an informative 

system to direct citizens according to the public 

interest.


Store enough food, housing, medicine and living 

supplies to confront disasters. 

Organize the request, admittance or reception of 

reciprocal assistance (locally and internationally). 

Register the names and addresses of trainee volunteers 

on relief activities. 

Link the main crisis management room with all 

services such as: 

1. Rescue and firefighting 

2. Medical services 

3. Evacuation, shelter, supply, and equipment 

4. Information and awareness 

5. Burying the dead and identifying survivors 

6. Providing heavy mechanical tools and 

relief equipment 

7. Other services which can play a role in 

dealing with special events. 

Second: Countering the Disaster (disaster stage): 

1. Determining the committees assigned to 

disaster management depending on its nature; 

such committees practice their tasks 

of disaster management after assigning 

officials entitled to management and the 

decision-making. 

2. Using previously available capabilities. 

3. Implementing the previously set plans to 

reduce casualties resulting from the disaster. 

4. Storing data and information about the 

disaster and its impact on: buildings, people, 

public health, morale, hotels, schools, 

public facilities, factories, and roads. 

5. Evaluating confrontation and relief needs. 

6. Assess whether there is a need to request 

or accept certain types of foreign assistance. 

7. The role played by media regarding the 

transmission of the ongoing procedures, so 

as to extend public trust in relief officials. 

8. providing the necessary services to the 

inflicted people (first aid, treatment, transport, 

shelter, living, food and water supplies, 

and providing clothes and blankets), 

and informing the people sufficiently concerning 

relief efforts exerted to save their 

relatives. 

42 

Third: Recovery and Restoration of the Natural 

Course of Life (post-disaster stage): 

1. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of 

stricken sites. 

2. Restoring normal life. 

3. Repairing damages in public facilities. 

4. Assessing the expenses of immediate assistance, 

basic environmental repairs, 

medical treatment and psychotherapy. 

Aspects of Planning and Preparedness 

to Disaster Confrontation 

Due to the need to establish a strategy that 

combines elements and basics of planning and 

preparedness to counter various kinds of dangers, 

Governments should prepare and set the 

proper plans to counter all potential disasters and 

adopt appropriate measures to counter their impacts 

on lives, properties or fortunes and relief 

inflicted peoples. 

Such impacts might be fire, collapses or explosions…..etc. 

In this regard, there are some 

elements that help dealing with these dangers 

properly in Egypt. 

Such elements are: 

First (identification, analysis and examination of 

dangers) 

From the perspective of civil protection, dangers 

mean sudden situations that cause losses in 

lives and public or private property. These dangers 

can be natural or man-made (intentional – 

consensual). 

Countering such situations requires exerting 

collective Governmental or regional efforts, according 

to the magnitude, losses and damage 

caused by the disaster. Dangers can be identified 

as follows: 

• - Enumeration of various types of dangers 

on the international arena in general. 

• - Identification of types of disasters that 

might occur in Egypt. 

• - Enumeration of previous disaster locations 

and those which might be inflicted 

with disasters in the future. 

• - Analysis and examination of methods to 

deal with each type of disasters locally, 

nationally or globally, as well as developing 

results and lessons learned from previous 

confrontations whether on the local, 

national or international levels.

Potential or expected disasters should be 

identified, whether natural such as earthquakes, 

floods, volcanoes, hurricanes, drought or wilderness 

and other disasters, or man-made disasters 

such as accidents of hazardous, radioactive or 

nuclear materials, fires, collapses and others. 

There should be an examination to potential 

occurrence locations, range of effect, the time 

disasters take while considering population density, 

types of buildings, nature of services, communication 

means, industrial and agricultural 

development elements as well as public needs of 

citizens in such circumstances. 

Second (enumeration of capabilities "the material 

element") 

Recently, civil protection facility has witnessed 

major developments. Such developments 

are manifested in the provision of civil protection 

tools and equipment that can be utilized in 

dealing with different accidents. This reflects the 

role played by the Government in protecting the 

lives of citizens. This process is conducted in the 

light of identifying necessary capabilities for 

intervention and confrontation operations (tools 

– equipment – vehicles – communications), and 

determination of available capabilities in dealing 

with disasters as well as trying to provide sufficient 

tools in accordance with the magnitude and 

type of expected dangers identified. 

As a matter of fact, the availability of appropriate 

equipment, vehicles and tools to deal with 

potential dangers generates very positive effects 

in that regard. It also helps carrying out the applicable 

aspect of actual confrontation operations 

because the more sufficient such tools are, the 

easier it becomes to achieve better results in disaster 

confrontation. 

According to the aforementioned facts, fire 

fighting vehicles, ladders, extinguishing materials, 

ground water drainages are provided in addition 

to high or collapsed buildings rescue tools, 

river fire fighting. This is conducted in parallel 

with constant support providing appropriate 

tools, security devices, explosives and hazardous 

materials detection and diffusion equipment. 

This operation does not rely only on the availability 

of equipment, but also there should be 

well-trained cadres capable of operating and 

controlling such tools, which is the backbone of 

the human element. 


43 

Third (the human element) 

It is imperative to prepare individuals' from 

all categories and specialties, in a way that suits 

the range of confrontation preparedness, and ensure 

the appropriate operation of equipment used 

in confronting expected hazards, through the 

following: 

A) Selection: 

Consideration should be given to mental, physical 

and psychological capabilities. Courageous, 

faithful and confident cadres should be selected. 

B) Categorization: 

Categorization means classifying the human element 

in accordance with employment levels. 

This categorization starts with the individual first 

level and ends up with the commanding level. 

C- Basic Training: 

All levels of cadres should get basic training 

with special attention to raising physical fitness 

and developing practical and scientific skills of 

those cadres to be integrated within the civil protection 

facility. 

Fourth (Training) 

Training aims, in general, at providing a 

group of people with specialized skills required 

by performance operations, to reach the highest 

levels, through using the potentials and assisting 

tools that can help in completion of this operation 

in the framework of a specific of training 

plan. 

In this way, we can rehabilitate and polish the 

capacities of human elements from all levels in 

this field starting from the executive level ending 

up with commanding levels by enrolling the individual 

in different basic and specialized training 

courses in the varied fields of civil protection. 

Good planning, setting and implementing 

comprehensive training courses through local 

and daily training can assure the effective performance 

of individuals and equipments through 

the following: 

• Implementing trainings related to management 

and intervention, whereas 

each department should manage to activate 

and train the workers in accordance 

with incident intervention tactics.


• Conducting joint training between all 

departments participating in emergency 

plans related to various incidents. 

• Identifying and avoiding the weak 

points and shortcomings. 

Fifth (Operation rooms) 

Operation rooms designated to crises management 

should be established as follows: 

• Provide these rooms with the latest 

means of communications to setup a 

link with all sites, and departments 

concerned. These rooms should as well 

be updated consecutively. 

• Setup an updated database, which includes 

(places and sites of danger – 

human and material capacities and 

their places...etc). 

Education: 

Graduated from Police College in 1974, 74 th batch of graduates 

License in Law and Police 

44 

• Prepare cadastral maps illustrating 

(road, water, electricity, telephone, 

drainage networks – first aid centers – 

fire fighting and rescue points – mobile 

equipments and devices and their 

places…etc). 

• Utilize computers to register data related 

to disasters management. 

• Utilize modern techniques in the field 

of communication via satellites as well 

as, transmitting, live transmission of 

incidents to operation rooms and Department 

of Disasters and crises, to 

achieve a better immediate decision 

making process, and using Internet networks 

in sending and receiving information 

and data. 


Assistant to the Minister of Interior 

Director of Civil Defence Administration 

Place and date of birth: Cairo – 17/01/1954 

Trainings: 

First leaders task force - 1978 

Ammunition, explosives and bomb disposal task force - 1986 

Training course on airports security - 1986 

Active task force for removal of bombs and traps - 1994 

Task force for the detection of explosives by using police dogs - 1997 

Explosives task force - 2000 

Medals and rewards: 

Reward on the occasion of the “Police Day” in 2004 

“Excellence Medal of First Level” awarded by virtue of a presidential decree no. 18 of the year 2009 

Previous work experience: 

Central Security Section, during 1974-1976 

Security Directorate in Assiout, during 1976-1979 

Cairo Port Police Administration, during 1979-2007 

Civil Defence Administration, since 2007 until now

The International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO) is an inter-governmental organisation 

whose objective is to contribute to the development by States of structures ensuring the 

protection and assistance of populations and safeguarding property and the environment 

in the face of natural and man-made disasters. 

These structures are generally known as civil protection, civil defence, civil safety 

and are all concerned with the management of emergency situations. 

The ICDO federates the national structures established by States 

for this purpose with the aim of favouring cooperation and mutual solidarity between them. 

International Civil Defence 

Organisation (ICDO) 

Permanent Secretariat 

10 - 12, chemin de Surville 

P.O. Box 172 

CH - 1213 Petit-Lancy 

Geneva, Switzerland 

Tel. (+ 41 22) 879 69 69 

Fax (+ 41 22) 879 69 79 

E-mail : icdo@icdo.org 

www. icdo.org 

PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE FOR ALL

NEWS - ICDO

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