“Effective Preparedness for a Better Response”
In 2006, the annual field training Disaster Management Camp (DMC) saw its debut as a small project that centered around disaster preparedness, just to evolve very soon into a promising program with bigger objectives and scope. Year after year, it expanded its vision and attracted broader regional and global attention. Now, it is on the agenda of the United Nations, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Secretariat-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Through this camp, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) seeks to build the capacity of society members, who constitute much of its resources and power. The objectives of DMC are to (1) recruit young talent and develop their experience and skills, (2) build up a well-trained base of volunteers who are qualified in disaster response and relief, (3) enhance coordination with the concerned organizations and authorities, (4) help society to recover from any future disasters, and (5) minimize casualties and property losses by being ready in advance at all times.
Over the years, the widely celebrated event graduated hundreds of volunteers, who later engaged with their organizations in disaster response efforts and shared their acquired expertise with their colleagues. This exceptional success accumulated over the camp’s eight editions of 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018.
The proven track record of DMC reflects how the State of Qatar attaches great importance to the control of natural disasters, as well as international cooperation to reduce their impact. The camp is an efficient means for producing a culture of preparedness and spreading knowledge of the world’s latest disaster response tools. It is thanks to the government and nongovernment support that DMC continued and grew over the years.
As the only Arabic-speaking specialized training of its kind, DMC is eagerly awaited by many national and international government organizations and NGOs. It is usually hosted by the Marine Scouts Camp in Al-Khor. Every year, it is attended by an average of 300 trainees, including representatives of government organizations and NGOs in Qatar, along with volunteers from Arab National Societies and QRCS. They are supervised by a group of expert disaster management trainers.
This field training is part of a year-round disaster management training program aimed at raising public awareness of the risks of disasters and how to face them. To that end, it tries to create a cadre of volunteers with the necessary know-how to deal with disasters under global standards, to be deployed at times of emergency. It comprises workshops and basic/advanced courses on the different areas related to disaster management. Inspired by an underlying strategy of mobilizing the youth’s energy in voluntary work, the program sees capacity-building as a national priority under Qatar National Vision 2030, with a view to social stability and national preparedness.
Registration for the Disaster Management Camp:
Participation in the Disaster Management Camp (DMC) is open to all the public. Every year, the registration period is announced via the website and social media channels of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).
