DAMMAM: Regional Civil Defense authorities have been given permission to rent any rescue and aid equipment necessary in the event of emergency and natural disaster. They have also been given authority over shelter and housing in the first hours of an emergency situation. Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, head of the Civil Defense in the Eastern Province, said that the instructions would ensure quick emergency response with the use of “considerable and sophisticated facilities”. “If circumstances require, any equipment or other means of assistance can be rented directly to help in aid operations,” he said. “The Civil Defense has great backing in terms of rescue and aid equipment and machinery, and there is considerable cooperation between its departments and other government departments in a range of areas to provide the best possible services to the public.” The Civil Defense has in recent times signed numerous contracts for the provision of the most sophisticated technology and firefighting equipment, much of which has already been supplied with the remaining due in the near future. It has also introduced numerous training programs conducted throughout the year to qualify all members of its staff.
