Tuwaijri, Director General of the Civil Defense and member of the fact-finding committee set up to investigate the Jeddah flood disaster, has said that the Civil Defense responded to the events with “the utmost professionalism”. “The Human Rights Commission said in its report that Civil Defense officials acted professionally in carrying out the emergency plan and keeping losses to a minimum,” Al-Tuwaijri said. Al-Tuwaijri noted that the flood response was required at a time when Civil Defense officials were assisting in the south of the Kingdom and while performing other duties for the Haj season. “We had in place a general plan and had stationed equipment and personnel at the holy sites to provide the best possible services to pilgrims, while at the same time the aggression occurred against Saudi territory in the south which required backing for the Armed Forces and Civil Defense evacuation plans for the displaced,” he said. “All plans are submitted to, and discussed and approved by, the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister and President of the High Council of Civil Defense Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, who closely follows all stages of their execution,” he said. Al-Tuwairji said that assistance of other nations was also constantly enlisted to provide the “experience and abilities which play a great part in handling disasters”. “We send our officers abroad on courses to acquire skills and experience which are then applied at home,” he said. “The recently held international symposium on disasters in Riyadh was part of those efforts to learn from global experience to ensure the safety of the public and the nation. The symposium was approved by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and gatherings of the same nature will continue to be held,” Al
