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Introduction

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 Introduction

- Definition
- History
- Commissions and Functions
- Sections of civil protection

• Introduction:
Man suffered for many years from the natural disasters that lead to devastating effects of the properties and the population. And it was difficult for States to face such disasters due to the lack or the lost of the resources, resulting in unbelievable losses. And before the First World War, the industrial disasters were not known until evolution took place, and the States started to manufacture the weapons that cause mass destruction in the hostile nations. Then the States started to develop of these weapons until it became a multi-species (nuclear - biological - chemical). And then, there has been an evolution in the fields of facing these disasters caused by those weapons. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia started to take into consideration everything that is new in the field of fighting against the disasters and in protecting lives and properties. And the General Directorate of the Civil Protection in the Civil Defense was created to take this purpose (This is revealed in the definition of the Civil Protection). In this sense, the General Administration of the Civil Protection is trying (and through the guidance of the senior leadership of this dear country) to face the possible disasters and minimize its effects by cooperating with other authorities through doing some business concerning analyzing and studying the risks, and the possibility of its occurrence, the setting of the plans for facing the disasters, and then preparing through the processing of all material, human, and technical resources.. As well as it does the process of the evacuating, sheltering, and restoring of the situations as they were before the disaster.

• Definition:
Most of the legislation of the States has agreed to this name that the Civil Protection is (the protection and the rescue of man and property under all circumstances, in times of war, disorder, and during misadventures). And it is known in the Kingdom due to its functions and objectives as (prevention of natural, industrial, and military hazards, as well as lessening its results and uniting the efforts to deal with those risks and setting the appropriate procedures and actions in order to protect lives as well as public and private property under all circumstances.

 

• ;Historical view
The idea of protection from the fatalism risks such as (earthquakes - volcanoes - the wind - hurricanes ...) and the dangers of wars that are as old as the presence of man, the progress of time, the evolution of human societies, and the prosperity of industries and construction, as well as the consequence of the modern technology such as risks in addition to the various disasters and calamities that occur from time to time. It all made the Thinking of man develops in the field of humanitarian protection, in order to preserve the human and economy particularly that the modern organization of the social life became a threaten to explode a disaster at all times, especially in large cities where there are hundreds of thousands of people as well as the huge industrial vehicles in addition to the accumulation of fatal types materials, which all in their turn consisted the meeting point for all risk and disasters, in addition to the calamity and armed conflicts or even wars from time to time in certain countries. All of this had caused the most States of the world to think about establishing a system responsible of protecting man and his properties from hazards. And Britain is the only country in the world that had organized the civil protection since 1935 through which it has set precautionary measures against air strikes, making the civil defense council admits the civil defense peaceful service in 1940. As for the other countries which participated in the Second World War, they were not ready to cope with the disasters that befell the persons and properties, because the civil protection was not found within the hierarchy of the state, as well as it did not occur to the government authorities before the World War II to develop a general and comprehensive arrangement upon the national part which is applied during the peace times. So the natural disasters were left up to the local authorities for example municipalities and villages where there is no arrangement or preparation. For this, there will be an intervention between the domestics and the volunteers who carry out various activities inconsistent with each other.
The feeling of the important need to regulate the structure of civil protection emerged seriously in the year 1960 where this feeling included all the nations of the world.
The Civil Protection in Saudi Arabia is responsible of carrying out the missions entrusted to it, at the level of the General Directorate of the Civil Defense representing the Interior Ministry.. The Civil Protection has passed since its setting up into the several stages:

1) The civil protection was recognized at its beginning under the name of (the Department of relief and protection against disaster) in 1402 through which several divisions are linked to it such as:
- The Civil Defense Council Division.
- Evacuation and quartering Division.
- Shelter Division.
- Relief Division.
- Warning Division. 
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2) The structure of the Civil Protection has been modified in 1406 to become under the name of (The Assistant of the General Director of the Civil Protection):
- Local Committees Administration.
- Administration of evacuation and quartering.
- Administration of Shelter.
Administration of Warning.
- Administration of Relief.
- Administration of coordination and follow-up.
- Administration of Volunteers Affairs.

3) It was reformed in 1408, as well as its name which became ( the General Directorate of the Civil Protection Affairs) and which contains the following departments:
- Professional Protection Administration.
- Volunteer’s Management.
- Warning and communicating systems Management.
Administration of Planning and coordination of operations Management.
- Department of relief and emergency preparations.
- Management of risk analysis.

4) It was reformed in 1409, and its name became (General Directorate for the Civil Protection Affairs). It contains the following departments:
- Department of emergency planning.
- Department of warning and communicating systems.
- Department of the Professional Prevention.
- Management of the Volunteer’s Affairs.
- Management of risk analysis.
- Department of relief and emergency preparations.

5) It was reformed in 1416, as well as its name became(The General Directorate for Civil Protection) in which the following departments are related to it:
- Management of risk analysis.
- Department of warning and guiding systems.
- Programs and Documentation Management.
- Department of emergency planning.
- Department of readiness and confrontation.

• Tasks and functions of civil protection:
The civil protection does all the functions and tasks of the Civil
Defense in some countries, and in some countries the tasks and objectives are identified to it to do during emergencies, including:
1) Classifying the risks with its various types and setting the appropriate solutions to address them.
2) Preventing of the natural, industrial, and military hazards and lessening of its results, as well as working to keep the continuation of the work of the important facilities. In addition to this, to set the appropriate procedures and actions to protect lives and public and private property.
3) Plan for facing the emergency situations for those affected by the effects of accidents, fatal and industrial disasters, and that of war.
4) Develop the general plans for emergency, as well as setting the basics through which they prepare the detailed plans and the follow-up of the Main Committees in the areas.
5) Prepare the scientific and field studies in order to analyze and identify the potential risks and to coordinate with all the sectors and government institutions for the preparation of the general plans to intervene in cases of disasters.
6) Preparation of rapid intervention systems in emergency situations.
7) Prepare the specific plans to benefit from the volunteers.
8) Preparing the evacuation and accommodation plans in the cases of wars and emergencies.
9) Preparing and implementing the plans, policies, and programs to implement what has been mentioned in the system of the civil defense and its regulations related to the work of civil protection.
10) Implementing what is mentioned in the list of the volunteers and preparing the plans to take advantage of them.
11) Coordinating with the competent authorities to prepare the warning plans of the dangers.
12) Permanent coordination with all the Ministries and the government departments which are responsible for the implementation of the work of the Civil Defense.
13) Rehabilitating and training of the staff of the civil protection to meet the potential risks.
14) Protection from the chemical, germ and nuclear (NBC) dangers resulting from the war.
15) Temporary and fixed shelter camps are set to accommodate the affected and the displaced persons.

• The divisions of the Civil Protection:
I. Risk analysis:
It is responsible to know and identify the hazards that are caused, or those that were likely to occur in the country. As well as it should identify the protection requirements and the procedures needed to address them.

II. Emergency planning:
It is responsible to set the general plans for emergency and war, as well as to set the basics through which the detailed plans are prepared, in addition to the pursuing of the work of the Main Committees in the areas. It also oversees the setting of the lists and the regulations special to the work of the General Directorate of the Civil Protection in coordination with the Secretariat of the Council of the Civil Defense.

III. Readiness and confrontation:
It is responsible for planning in order to face the emergency situations for those affected by the effects of accidents, fatal and industrial disasters, war, and emergency through evacuation, sheltering, and returning things to their usual. It also handles the portion of providing food, clothing and adequate shelter (from the specified authorities) to help them return as quickly as possible to the conditions of normal life.

IV. Warning systems and guidance:
It is meant in planning to publish the warning network, as well as setting and following-up the general standards and measures for the characteristics of the shelters. It is also responsible for making people aware of the work the Civil Protection, organizing the operational procedures, and preparing the operational rooms and centers in order to manage and handle the emergency operations.

V. Programs and documentation:
It is meant for planning in order to set the necessary programs to rehabilitate the staff of the civil protection and to follow-up with the dealing procedures with the advisers, as well as to document the work of civil protection by computers.