Forum gives stamp of approval for crisis plan

Emergency management forum reassures officials that their vision for national infrastructure for dealing with disaster is sound.

A Geographical Information System will provide maps and other data to help responders during emergencies in the UAE'

ABU DHABI // The Crisis and Emergency Management Conference held in the capital this week served to reassure officials that they are on the right track as they construct a national infrastructure for dealing with emergencies. Establishing fail-safe telecommunications and developing a Geographical Information System (GIS) will be among the first steps, the officials say.

Mohamed al Ghanim, the director general of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, said: "The plan is designed to protect the critical infrastructure of the telecommunications network, and clarifies the specific roles and responsibilities of TRA and the telecom operators in response measures during emergency situations and crisis times." If a crisis affects telecommunications, one of the priorities would be to ensure that the emergency number 999 stays up and running, he said.

The number is connected through a network with all national operations centres, and these operation rooms have alternative control centres, Mr al Ghanim said, explaining how 999 would continue to operate during a disaster. The Department of Municipal Affairs will also assist the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) in establishing a GIS, which provides maps and other data to help responders during emergencies.

An agreement was signed between both parties on Wednesday. Mohammed al Romaithi, the director general of the NCEMA, said: "We found the department's presentation during the conference particularly significant because GIS has become a necessity for every organisation for planning during crisis." Al Thuraya Telecommunications Company would provide services to the UAE if the local networks crashed. Another deal signed by NCEMA on Wednesday involved the National Media Council's co-operation in providing information to media outlets during a crisis.

Mr al Romaithi said several studies presented at the conference would influence NCEMA's long-term strategy. These include the role of the private sector during national emergencies, and the creation of a database of all existing and potential threats. [e-mail] [e-mail]