Hodeida - Saba:
An emergency and disaster operations center affiliated with the Civil Defense Authority was inaugurated on Sunday in Hodeida province, as part of efforts to enhance preparedness , rapid response to emergencies and natural disasters.
The inauguration was attended by Governor Abdullah Atifi, Civil Defense Director General Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Al-Muayyad, Deputy Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Ambassador Ismail Mohammed Al-Mutawakel, and Deputy Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Rosaria Bruno. During the event, key challenges facing civil defense operations in the province were reviewed, most notably the severe shortage of technical equipment and machinery.
Participants stressed the urgent need to develop field infrastructure and improve readiness to handle various emergencies, both in Hodeida and other provinces.
Governor Atifi highlighted that damages caused by direct shelling of residential areas and recurring floods have worsened the humanitarian situation. He noted that the Civil Defense faces difficulties due to limited resources, hindering its ability to carry out rescue, medical aid, and rapid evacuation operations effectively.
Maj. Gen. Al-Muayyad stated that the resources available to the Civil Defense branch in the province are insufficient to meet current challenges. He pointed out that many branches in other provinces lack water pumps, tanks, fire trucks, advanced rescue equipment, calling for urgent intervention to enhance technical and operational capacities.
Ambassador Al-Mutawakel emphasized the importance of supporting the Civil Defense sector, given the emergency conditions in Hodeida. He urged international and local humanitarian organizations to provide necessary support to equip the operations center and cover urgent needs.
Rosaria Bruno affirmed that strengthening Civil Defense capabilities is a top humanitarian priority. She reiterated OCHA’s commitment to providing essential technical and logistical support to improve emergency response, save lives, and enhance community security amid escalating disasters.
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