Follow Oman’s tsunami drill example: GCC Council

Riyadh: Other Arab nations should follow Oman’s example in preparing their citizens and residents for natural disasters that may come their way. That was the opinion of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Gulf Secretariat Council, the top governing body across the GCC.
“The General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf congratulates the Sultanate, represented by the Public Authority of Civil Aviation and the National Civil Defence Committee in all its sectors, on the success of the regional exercise IOWave18 to address the dangers of tsunamis, which was carried out on September 4,” said the council officials.
Readiness
“This confirmed the readiness of the Sultanate to deal with any tsunami warnings,” they added.
“The Secretariat also emphasises the importance of implementing such field exercises to raise awareness among all segments of society, especially those living close to coasts exposed to such natural hazards.”
IOWave18 was a multi-national emergency preparedness exercise, which saw Indian Ocean nations organise drills to ensure the inhabitants of their countries were aware of the protocols that needed to be followed in such situations.
In Oman, the drill was held near Al Sawadi, and organised by the Sultanate’s National Defence Committee, in collaboration with the Royal Oman Police,PACA and Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance.
Oman is one of the six members of the GCC, the other five nations being the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.