Conclusion of activities of the third training camp for the disaster response national team

Bani Naim – The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) concluded on Monday, July 1, 2013, the activities of the training for the National Disaster Response Team; the training lasted ten days in Masafer Bani Naim region in Hebron District; a total number of 46 female and male volunteers participated in the training camp.

The concluding ceremony was attended by several managers of departments and programs in the PRCS and directors of branches and head of Bani Naim branch in addition to the deputy mayor of Bani Naim and several figures heading the civil society organizations.

In his welcoming speech, deputy mayor of Bani Naim Waleed Harasha affirmed that the municipality will continue its cooperation and support to the PRCS and its branch in Bani Naim town. He praised the efforts of the PRCS in the various fields.

He commended the high level of organization and readiness shown in the third training camp of the disaster response national team and high level of responsibility shown by the participants and high level of professionalism of the people in charge of the PRCS.

Jamal Tmeizi, member of the executive office of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and head of its branch in Bani Naim, said the training camp comes in the context of the policy of the Society to prepare its cadres in managing any disaster as the need increases every day.

He pointed out that the cadres of the Society showed high level of readiness to managing disasters in the past two years, especially during the recent Israeli military operation on Gaza Strip, and the harsh weather conditions witnessed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip last winter.

On his part, Bashir Ahmad, director of disaster management program in the West Bank, reviewed the conditions of the participants in the camp; he said: The Palestinian Red Crescent Society aimed from the disaster management program to upgrade the capabilities of the Society and the Palestinian society on the path towards reinforcing their capacities in the field of disaster management. This training comes in line with the strategy of the Society towards building the capacities of the society which is the first body affected in case of disasters and the first body to respond; he said the training met the advanced international standards along with the local quality experiences.

Ahmad added: the training focused on several important themes that upgrade the potentials of the Palestinian youth in the field of disaster management, such as water and environmental disasters, shelter, food and nutrition, and quick assessment in case of disasters, response, media and several field maneuvers during the day and at night which was application to what they received in theory.

On his part, volunteer Ahed Sha’ban delivered a speech in the name of his colleague graduates; he said despite the hard conditions during the long days of training, we feel happy and proud to have received this training, and to high level we have achieved in the field of confronting disasters. He praised the efforts of the trainers and the PRCS.