Initiative of NCEMA (National Crisis & Emergency Management Authority) and Takatof Social Volunteering Programme

Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 12, 2010 - The National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Takatof Programme for Social Volunteering last night launched the UAE's new National Emergency Response Programme, "Sanid." 

Sanid - meaning "Support" in Arabic - will recruit and train volunteers all over the country to respond to national and local emergencies. The organization was launched during the conference on 'Emergency and Crises Management 2010,' being held at the Emirates Center for Strategic Research and Studies in Abu Dhabi from January 11-13, 2010.

Sanid was established in line with directives from the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum - and with the support of HH Lt. General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The basis for the Sanid programme is the partnership between NCEMA and Takatof - the volunteer programme of the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy. Sanid will enable UAE citizens and residents alike to contribute effectively to emergency response efforts - providing them with the knowledge and the skills to protect themselves and their community while reducing the impact of emergency situations as much as possible.

Sanid has been created through partnerships with Swedish Civil Defence and the US Citizens Corps of Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). The Sanid programme draws on the proven international methods of both organizations - carefully adapted to suit UAE conditions, customs and culture.

Dr. Jamal Abdulhamid Al Hosani of NCEMA commented: "The launch of Sanid comes within the framework of our partnership with Takatof. We jointly want to support government and individual efforts to deal with local and national emergency situations."

He added: "Sanid is the new national back-up organization, geared to support other national bodies engaged in emergency relief response while contributing to security and public safety across the country."

For her part, Director of Takatof Maytha Al Habsi expressed her satisfaction over the launch of Sanid. "This programme encourages volunteers to develop their skills and acquire valuable knowledge of best international emergency practice, particularly with regard to crisis response and disaster relief," she noted.  "The volunteers will soon be fully equipped to protect individuals and national assets from the negative impact of disastrous events."

She emphasized: "Sanid unites volunteers' efforts across the nation, prepares them to deal with emergencies - and trains them to provide first aid and advanced medical services including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)."  She also explained that Sanid volunteers will be trained on fire suppression, crowd management, research and rescue methods, and formation of emergency teams.

Centralized Training Structure

The Sanid programme will be developed through a centralized structure, based on best international practices. Volunteers will work alongside, and in support of, existing government organizations engaged in the field of emergency response.

Those aged 18 or over, who are UAE citizens or residents, and have a strong sense of civic responsibility, can volunteer and become members of the new emergency response teams.

The volunteers will be working in a two-level programme. Male and female volunteers so far registered with Sanid during the assessment and pilot stage total 790. Of these, 560 are Level One volunteers (emergency response) and 230 are Level Two volunteers (advanced emergency response).

Level One volunteers will receive 36 hours of Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) on disaster preparedness, leadership skills, disaster medical operations, fire suppression, disaster psychology, light search and rescue, triage and terrorism awareness. Following the CERT training, they will undergo a disaster simulation exercise, where the skills they have acquired can be assessed.

After completing Level One CERT training, volunteers have the option to move to Level 2. For this training they operate as members of a team, with more in-depth training and knowledge of organized emergency response and crisis management.

Level Two volunteers undergo additional training for 30-35 hours. This includes crisis communications, management of spontaneous volunteers, advanced first aid, advanced CERT, team organization, local orientation, general leadership and team building. They also learn to use emergency heart equipment, the automated external defibrillator. On completion, these volunteers demonstrate their skills by responding to a major simulated emergency situation.

-Ends-

About Takatof:
Takatof is a social volunteering programme, derived from the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.  

The programme is creating a culture of volunteering across the country as it mobilizes people and resources to deliver creative and sustainable solutions for proven community needs. Takatof offers young people meaningful opportunities to volunteer for humanitarian, social and community development initiatives.

© Press Release 2010