The Saudi Red Crescent Authority has established 264 training drills at in its branches in the Kingdom during the year 2022, as part of its general plan to prepare for disasters, crises and emergency events, in addition to implementing several exercises with a number of government agencies. SRCA spokesman, Abdulaziz Al-Suwaine, stated for the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction which falls on October 13 each year, that the authority has developed set of plans at various levels to prepare for disasters and crises and reduce their consequences; the authority also secured technical and technical support to help our staff to deal with disasters professionally and efficiently, to ensure the safety of citizens and residents.

Adding that Kingdom's plan related to disaster management included general plan as well set of subdivision plans such as biological, radiological and chemical disaster management plans along with other 20 plans to ensure work sustainability in case of disasters outbreak, in addition to participating in national plans for various types of disasters as SRCA is considered one of main participants in executing such plans.

Al Suwaine also pointed out that among the measures taken by the Authority to provide every capability to prepare for disasters and crises is introducing a group of vehicles equipped for disaster response and qualitative response in the ambulatory fleet, and among these vehicles, the mobile command center (Al Thuraya) and the hazardous materials response vehicle (Salma), a tactical response vehicle (Dhamak), a vehicle for supplying equipment (Hadaj), and mass causality bus (Twaiq) and a number of vehicles for wildlife emergency response.

He also stated that SRCA fleet is now capable of managing various qualitative incidents at various levels, such as events that result in radioactive, chemical or biological materials, as well as responding to security risks; and any events that threaten the safety of the paramedics, and the fleet will also ensure the supply and response to mass incidents as well dealing with multiple injuries and transporting them simultaneously.

For the training and rehabilitation levels, he explained that the Authority inaugurated qualitative courses in the fields of All Hazards Disaster Response (AHDR) and crisis and disaster course that over 685 trainees benefited from in this year up to early August. And the Authority has its contribution part with its expertise and training prospect at the international level as the Authority is a member of MENA Disaster Management Advisory Group of the national societies of IFRC.

And he indicated that one of the most prominent plans in which the Authority participates at, in order to address disasters and reduce their risks is the plan to respond to radiological and nuclear emergencies, which deals with these type of disasters that occur inside or outside borders of the Kingdom, and are caused by accidental causes, acts of sabotage or acts of Military uses of radioactive and nuclear materials; as such a plan aims to take every necessary procedures to encounter what could result from those emergency cases and to provide requirements of emergency response to eliminate the impact and reduce consequences.