Minister of Interior Chairs the Supreme Council for Civil Defense Meeting, Emphasizing Readiness and Emergency Response

SadaNews - Today, Tuesday, Minister of Interior Ziad Hab al-Reeh chaired the meeting of the Supreme Council for Civil Defense at the ministry's headquarters in Ramallah, with the presence of the General Director of Civil Defense, Major General Akram Thawabta, the Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Leila Ghannam, and the Deputy Governor of Jerusalem, Abdullah Sayam, along with governors from various provinces via video conferencing (Zoom), in addition to council members from civil and security government institutions, and representatives from local community organizations.

The meeting began with a speech by the General Director of Civil Defense, during which he reviewed the readiness of the agency to deal with the expected weather disturbances, the field challenges, and the approved plans to enhance response and integration among various entities, accompanied by a presentation explaining the field preparations.

Hab al-Reeh reiterated the importance of working as a cohesive team and raising the national readiness level, emphasizing the need to enhance continuous coordination between government institutions and civil society organizations, and to take necessary actions according to the responsibilities assigned to each party.

He also stressed the vital role of volunteer teams, the Palestinian Red Crescent, and four-wheel drive vehicle teams in supporting the Civil Defense crews, especially given the exceptional situation in the West Bank, to strengthen the capability to respond to emergencies.

Hab al-Reeh pointed to the important national effort undertaken by the Risk and Crisis Mitigation Unit in the Ministry of Interior as the national contact point for the State of Palestine at regional and international levels.

The meeting addressed the expected weather conditions for the upcoming period and the mechanisms for preparing accurate scientific weather readings to support decision-making and provide reliable information to citizens. It also witnessed interventions from various provinces, council members, and related entities, reviewing procedures and readiness, while discussing a number of needs related to preparations.

The meeting concluded with an affirmation of the overall readiness of security, civil institutions, and civil society organizations, and the continuation of coordination and integration to ensure effective response to various weather conditions and potential emergencies.