Damascus, Oct. 26 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management is implementing a comprehensive plan to equip Civil Defense centers across the country, a process expected to take four to five years, Civil Defense Director Munir Mustafa said in an interview with Alikhbaria TV on Sunday.
Mustafa said expanding operations nationwide requires stronger personnel and logistical capabilities, noting that much of the equipment inherited from the ousted regime is worn out, destroyed or out of service. Restoring it would entail high costs and repeated maintenance.
The ministry has begun purchasing new vehicles, with shipments expected to arrive in Syria before being distributed among Civil Defense centers. However, the available quantities remain limited compared with the scale of the organization’s responsibilities and needs, he said.
Government and international assistance, including equipment supplied by the German government, will take time to meet requirements across the country, Mustafa added.
More than 115,000 people rescued
Civil Defense operations began with scattered volunteer groups in late 2012. The signing of the organization’s founding charter in 2014 marked an important step toward unifying policies and procedures and organizing field operations, Mustafa said.
The organization had around 4,500 personnel before its workforce fell to approximately 3,000 amid developments on the ground. Its responsibilities subsequently expanded following liberation, he added.
Civil Defense teams have rescued more than 115,000 people from the start of their operations through liberation, Mustafa said.
The February 2023 earthquake was one of the most significant events in the organization’s history. Teams rescued 294 people alive from beneath the rubble and recovered the bodies of around 2,500 others.
More than 220 personnel have been killed while carrying out their duties amid the risks facing rescue and firefighting teams, Mustafa said. The organization has received more than 40 international awards in recognition of its humanitarian work, helping boost staff morale, he added.
Volunteer teams and training plans
The ministry has established a volunteer department to form support teams that can help address staffing shortages and strengthen the response to major disasters, Mustafa said.
He noted strong interest in volunteering, adding that volunteer teams had joined Civil Defense crews in responding to wildfires in Latakia.
Training for personnel and volunteers continues, focusing on safety procedures and how to respond to the risks posed by structural collapses, fires and explosions.
The ministry is also developing plans to establish training centers and a specialized academy in Syria to prepare personnel to lead future operations, he said.
Earlier Sunday, Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed al-Saleh praised the sacrifices of Syrian Civil Defense personnel, known as the White Helmets, and reaffirmed their commitment to saving lives, protecting people and upholding human dignity on the 12th anniversary of the signing of the organization’s founding charter.
KhA/RK
