“Effective Preparedness and Better Response”
3 – 11 February 2026 | Mesaieed – Qatar
The Disaster Management Camp began its journey in 2006 as a small initiative promoting disaster preparedness and readiness. Over time, it grew into an ambitious program whose goals and scope expanded year after year. Today, it has evolved into a broader vision and a more comprehensive mission, gaining significant attention across the region and globally. The camp is now recognized on the agendas of the United Nations, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Through this camp, the Qatar Red Crescent Society aims to strengthen and build the capacities of community members who form an essential part of its structure and institutional capability. It also works to support and develop the talents, skills, and experience of volunteers, creating a trained and qualified community‑based response team capable of assisting in disaster relief operations. Moreover, the camp contributes to improving coordination with authorities and relevant institutions, helping society recover from the impacts of disasters and minimizing loss of life and property through enhanced preparedness.
Over the years, the Disaster Management Camp has earned a distinguished reputation and succeeded in training hundreds of volunteers who later supported their respective institutions in responding to various disasters, passing on the knowledge and skills they gained to their peers. This success is the result of continuous, dedicated work across the nine editions of the camp held in 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2023.
The wide recognition of the camp reflects the strong commitment of the State of Qatar to disaster risk reduction, international cooperation, and disaster‑response readiness. It serves as an important platform for spreading a culture of preparedness and introducing the latest tools and methods in disaster response worldwide. Its sustained continuation and development over the years—and the participation of many partners—highlight Qatar's dedication to enhancing resilience.
The camp also enjoys significant regional and international attention, being the only training of its kind conducted in Arabic. Every year, it attracts no fewer than 300 participants, including individuals and members of governmental and non‑governmental organizations in Qatar, representatives of several Arab National Societies, and Qatar Red Crescent volunteers. All of this takes place under the supervision of experienced trainers and specialists in the field of disaster management.
This field‑based training forms part of an ongoing annual program dedicated to disaster‑management capacity building. It aims to raise community awareness about disaster risks and how to confront them by preparing a team of trained volunteers capable of responding to potential emergencies in line with international standards. The program includes foundational and advanced workshops and training courses across various disaster‑management disciplines. It is built on a strategy that encourages youth engagement in volunteer work and recognizes capacity‑building as a national priority aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030, which aspires to ensure community stability with a strong focus on national preparedness.
