By Isabel Ovalle
The challenge of disaster management is bigger every day, given that climate change and other elements have increased the number of natural disasters. In order to improve Qatar’s disaster management skills and be more prepared for adversity, Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has organised for the fourth time, a camp to train volunteers in six different fields to address events like those mentioned before.
Despite the extreme heat in summer, experts say that Qatar is not vulnerable to any particular disaster.
“That is the nature of a disaster; you never know what it will be. Hopefully, we will never have a disaster,” said the Chairman and President of QRC, Mohammed bin Ghanem Al Ali Al Maadheed.
Nevertheless, the Chairman of QRC added that disasters that could take place here may possibly be of industrial origin, “we could be more vulnerable to them, also to those that have to do with planes or ships,” he stated. In this context, the country aims to increase its capacity to offer relief and address difficult situations like those. To this end, over 150 people, including approximately 25 women, have received training for 10 days in an Al Khor camp.
“Our country tries to use volunteers as well to be able to support us in case of disaster; we want to be able to extend the capacity. This camp also enables them to be ready to help in case of disaster without depending on any organisation,” clarified the chairman of QRC.
Volunteers come from 20 countries and, after an experience like this one, are more prone to coordinate their tasks with people from other nationalities when in the field. In case of a disaster, helpers must work in a team and be very sure of their responsibility.
QRC’s has worked in several catastrophes, such as the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005, the war in Lebanon in 2006 or the flooding in Philippines last year. Dr Anas Al Adma, from QRC, explained the features of the field hospital like the one volunteers have worked in during training. “It can treat an average of 250 casualties per day,” he said.
This hospital is put together in only one hour by around 10 medical staff. It’s transported in a truck that can easily be moved to other countries in case of disasters. Al Adma clarified: “Field hospitals deal with special situations given that there are many casualties during disasters and our priorities are totally different from those of an ordinary hospital.”
When attending victims of a disaster, life saving priorities are totally different, that’s why field hospitals can treat a large number of casualties. However, the number depends on the population in the area. “The turnover of patients is quick, some have to be transferred to the hospital, and others are treated quickly if the trauma is minor. A field hospital has minor equipment, but it can save hundreds of lives,” he clarified.
The expert highlighted that disaster management is much different than management in any medical facility. These doctors must also have the will to help, be prepared to put their life in danger, be ready to sacrifice and do humanitarian work.
Aiham Ismaiel Al Sukhni, Disaster Response Coordinator, said that this experience is perfect to improve the coordination between all the organizations involved, from Red Crescent to Red Cross and other institutions outside Qatar. “We want to have a team ready to participate in relieve missions,” he stated.
The supervisor of the camp added that it’s very important to differentiate between disaster management and how to deal with disaster. “There’s disaster management and dealing with disaster. In management you have to look from outside the box and know how to deal with six sectors,” he said.
When there’s a disaster, response should only take minutes. QRC now has a data base with approximately 3,000 people. “Everyone should know exactly how to behave, so there won’t be confusion.”
Regarding the preparedness of the community for disaster, the expert admitted that “we can’t say that we have a community that is really prepared.”
There is no other camps in the region similar to this one, said the expert, because “it’s very expensive, and we have to work for at least six months to put it together.”
On her part, Dr Aysha Al Manai, board member of QRC, informed that the Qatar Red Crescent helps all international organisations in case of disaster.
Three medical foundations have taken part in the group from outside Qatar, two of them from Yemen and one from Lebanon. Other institutions that have collaborated include Qatar University, Civil Defence, Qatar Charity, Supreme Council of Health and Scouts of Qatar, among others.
