اخبار سلطنة عُمان – وطن نيوز
اخر اخبار سلطنة عُمان اليوم – اخبار سلطنة عُمان العاجلة
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-04-25 16:20:00
The Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority dealt with 19,000 reports during the year 2025 AD, and worked to raise the efficiency of national cadres, employ modern technologies, and strengthen partnerships with the private sector and research institutions. In this context, Brigadier General Eng. Ali bin Saif Al-Muqbali, Assistant Chairman of the Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority, confirmed: Granting the Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority administrative and financial independence, in addition to legal personality, represents a qualitative shift in work and decision-making mechanisms; It will contribute directly to accelerating procedures and reducing the time cycle for making decisions, especially in emergency cases that require an immediate and decisive response. It will also give the Authority greater flexibility in managing its human and financial resources, in line with the nature of its field work and its changing requirements. He stressed that in terms of developing services, this independence will enable the Authority to adopt qualitative initiatives, attract talent, and update equipment and technologies in accordance with best international practices, in addition to strengthening partnerships with various sectors, ensuring the provision of civil defense and ambulance services with efficiency and quality. More, it is based on speed of response and accuracy of performance. This institutional transformation also enhances the authority’s ability in long-term strategic planning and building an integrated system based on innovation and proactiveness in risk management, in order to achieve the ultimate goal of protecting lives and property and preserving national gains. Regarding the allocation of some services, Al-Muqbali stressed that the trend of allocating some services comes within the framework of raising operational efficiency and enhancing sustainability, by involving the private sector in providing a number of supportive and complementary services, such as non-emergency ambulance transportation, logistical services, maintenance work and technical support, in addition to some specialized training and qualification programs, in accordance with precise standards that guarantee the quality of service and the safety of the beneficiaries. On the other hand, the basic services related to responding to emergency situations and dealing with critical reports will remain within the authority’s direct jurisdiction, and this trend would To contribute to achieving financial sustainability and raising the quality of services by introducing competitive standards and stimulating innovation, while enabling the Authority to focus on its basic roles in response and emergency management. Privatization will also be implemented gradually and thoughtfully, with direct supervision that ensures achieving the desired goals and providing high-quality service to citizens and residents. Readiness Regarding the Authority’s readiness today in light of climate change and the increase in reports related to weather conditions, he stated that the Authority is in a state of continuous development, supported by the accumulation of field experiences and continuous modernization of work systems, and the Authority has worked during the past period to raise the level of Preparedness by enhancing human capabilities, modernizing equipment and mechanisms, and developing communication systems and operating rooms to ensure rapid response and efficient coordination. As for the proactive plans, the Authority relies on an approach based on risk prediction and early preparedness, by analyzing data related to weather conditions, coordinating with the competent authorities, and developing multiple scenarios to deal with various possible cases. Flexible field deployment plans are also implemented, and exercises and training are intensified, in addition to raising the level of community awareness to ensure an effective partnership with the community in facing these challenges. We affirm that the Authority It continues to develop its readiness continuously, to keep pace with these changes, and to ensure the protection of lives and property in accordance with the highest standards of efficiency and response. Challenges Brigadier General Al-Raqqan pointed out that the civil defense and ambulance teams face in the field a number of challenges related to the nature of the work, the most prominent of which is the difficulty of reaching some sites in remote areas or with rugged terrain, and the long distances, in addition to the volatile weather conditions that may hinder the speed of response, in addition to the diversity of emergency situations that require high readiness and precise specialization in dealing, and to overcome these challenges, the authority worked To enhance its geographical spread by establishing emergency centers and points close to population centers and vital areas, and providing teams with vehicles and equipment prepared to deal with various terrains, including mountainous and desert areas, the support and support system has also been developed between units, ensuring speedy reinforcement when needed. The Authority also relies on continuous training and raising the efficiency of cadres to deal with exceptional circumstances, in addition to employing modern technologies in determining locations and field guidance, and coordinating with partner agencies to ensure integration of efforts in cases. He added: We in the Authority are keen to establish a number of qualities in the new cadres, foremost of which are loyalty, national affiliation, responsible courage, and teamwork, in addition to discipline and commitment to the highest professional standards. We also give great importance to psychological and physical rehabilitation, so that the civil defense and ambulance man is able to deal with various circumstances with stability and efficiency, and the ability to make decisions in the most difficult moments and with a spirit of sacrifice that makes him present where there is danger. The Authority also works to qualify national cadres, through training programs. Advanced, and partnerships with educational and research institutions, with the aim of building professional capabilities capable of keeping pace with future challenges. Strengthening Partnerships Al-Muqbali stated that there is a clear trend to strengthen partnerships with the private sector and research institutions, based on a firm conviction that rapid technical development requires the integration of efforts and the exchange of experiences, and the Authority is working to build strategic relationships with bodies specialized in the fields of technology and innovation, with the aim of developing work systems, raising the efficiency of response, and benefiting from smart solutions in emergency management; These partnerships include employing artificial intelligence techniques to analyze reports and predict risks, develop communications systems and operating rooms, in addition to supporting research and development programs, and implementing joint projects that contribute to improving the quality of ambulance and defense services. We are also keen to cooperate with academic and research institutions to prepare specialized studies and develop training programs based on the latest international practices, in a way that enhances the efficiency of national cadres and keeps pace with the rapid changes in this field. These partnerships represent an important tributary to developing institutional performance and enabling the Authority to adopt innovative and sustainable solutions, which reflects positively on the quality of services provided and enhances its readiness to protect lives and property. The Authority is also moving towards enhancing financial and operational sustainability by diversifying sources of support. Number of Reports: For his part, Colonel Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Shajabi, Director General of Operations, indicates that the number of reports recorded by the Authority during the year 2025 AD is about (19,068) reports, which varied between traffic accidents, emergency cases, fire reports, and rescue operations of various types. The fire brigades dealt with (5,560) fire reports, and the rescue teams dealt with (7,460) land transportation accidents. With regard to land rescue operations, the rescue teams dealt with (1,578) reports, and the water rescue teams dealt with (174) drowning cases. He explained that the Authority’s teams always follow up with the relevant authorities on information about exceptional circumstances, and as soon as alerts are issued by the National Center for Early Warning of Multiple Hazards, the degree of readiness in all civil defense centers is raised. And ambulance, and distributing water rescue teams and vehicles to the places most vulnerable to dangers and valley streams. This readiness comes through operational plans prepared in advance to interact with such cases. Response: Regarding assessing the seriousness of the situation and determining the appropriate type of response before the teams move, Colonel Ahmed explained that this is done through a precise system that begins from the moment the report is received in the operations center; The specialists collect basic information from the informant according to standard forms and questions that help accurately describe the case, such as the location of the accident, its nature, the number of injured, and the potential level of danger. Based on these data, the report is classified according to priority levels, and then the type of response required is determined, whether it is ambulance, firefighting, rescue, or a joint response between more than one party, while directing the teams closest geographically and most prepared to deal with the case. The system also relies on advanced technical systems that support decision-making, by determining Accurate locations, linking reports to a database that contributes to analyzing patterns and assessing risks faster, and the operations room remains in constant contact with field teams to update information and adjust the response when needed according to developments in the situation. Colonel Ahmed Al-Bakhit Kashoub, Assistant Director General of Civil Defense, said: The recent institutional development has been directly and concretely reflected in the work mechanisms within the civil defense sector. It contributed to enhancing the flexibility of decision-making, accelerating procedures, and raising the efficiency of coordination between various leadership and field levels. This development allowed for the reorganization of the work system in accordance with best practices, by modernizing administrative structures, developing command and control systems, and enhancing integration between units, which reflected positively on the speed of response and quality of performance in dealing with reports and emergency situations. It also contributed to enabling cadres to perform their tasks more effectively, by expanding powers, simplifying procedures, and providing a stimulating work environment that supports innovation and responds to requirements. Al-Maidan. Regarding the most common causes of residential fires in the Sultanate of Oman during the past year, Colonel Ahmed stated that misuse of electrical appliances, negligence, poor wiring, and overloading electrical circuits are among the most common causes of residential fires in the Sultanate of Oman during 2025 AD. The number of residential facility fires reached (1,714) fires in various governorates, and Muscat Governorate recorded the highest number (661) fires, and this increase comes as a natural result of the increase in population and urban density. There are also other causes such as misuse of cooking gas, neglect, leaving flame sources unattended, and children playing around. Modern Technologies The Assistant Director General of Civil Defense also touched on the most prominent modern technologies in search and rescue operations, such as the use of unmanned aircraft (drones) in aerial survey operations during search and rescue operations, in addition to employing systems. Advanced location identification and digital maps that help teams navigate efficiently in difficult terrain. Work is also underway to introduce thermal imaging devices that enable people to be monitored in low-visibility conditions, such as night or dense areas. In addition, the Authority seeks to benefit from artificial intelligence techniques in analyzing data and anticipating the potential locations of missing persons, and developing advanced field communication systems that ensure continuity of communication between teams in complex environments, as well as (the Nedaa application) and the importance of the data that is provided to the application to follow up on the authority’s operations centers during use for preparedness and recovery in the event of an emergency. Awareness. The Authority attached great importance to awareness through implementing extensive media and community campaigns aimed at enhancing the culture of safety in general and within homes in particular, and emphasizing preventive measures that contribute to reducing risks. As a result of these efforts, an improvement was observed in the level of public awareness, and this was reflected positively through some reports that were dealt with in a correct manner by citizens and residents. We recorded a number of reports that were dealt with by children in a proper manner in accordance with what they were taught during these awareness campaigns, which is an indicator that reinforces the importance of continuing and developing these campaigns, stressing that prevention and awareness remain the first line of defence, and that strengthening partnership with society represents an essential element in reducing accidents, which contributes to protecting lives and property and establishing a safe environment for all.
