This report was prepared by the Palestinian Civil Defense with the assistance of Dr. Jalal Al-Dabbeek, Associate Professor at the An-Najah National University in Nablus and the support by the UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) in 2008.

The report includes a review of the risks and vulnerabilities in the occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt), a summary of the existing capacities and of the capacity building needs in the field of civil protection as well as a list of the technical institutions involved in civil protection.

The assessment of the disaster risks in the oPt has been done by carrying out a desk review of already available reports, studies, analyses, and assessments on disaster risk (vulnerability and hazards) carried out at the country level. The summary of the existing capacities includes the review of existing legislations, and of the institutional mechanism for disaster preparedness and prevention. The report describes also national and international initiatives in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction, case studies and best practices. 

A set of recommendations for improving DRR capacities in the oPt are drafted and put forward. The recommendations include regional cooperation, improvement/formulation of legislation towards disaster preparedness and prevention, linking policies and operations, coordination of central and local governments, political support, awareness and training, integration and management of DRR into national development, and developing a risk management database.

Download the "Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" 

by Mohammed Al Beiruti, Palestinian Civil Defense

Wafa', a housewife mother of four kids, lives in the bottom floor flat of a multi-storey building in Ram Allah city in West Bank. Her husband works in the construction sector; he goes to work at seven every morning and comes back home at sunset – except on Friday.

Two of Wafa's kids are in the primary school; the other two haven't reached the age of school yet. When Wafa' was questioned about her perception of the risks to which her family and her house are exposed, she was unable to answer clearly. Her knowledge on risks like house fire, gas leaks , shocks from heaters in winter, is limited. She doesn't know how to prevent electric shocks, and she does not perceive the risk of drowning, as there is no water well or river near the house.

On June 7 2010, the Palestinian Civil Defense Department organized in collaboration with the Red Crescent and the Governorate of Jericho a full scale exercise simulating coordinated inter-forces search and rescue operations following a major earthquake in Jericho.

During the exercise, the Palestinian Civil Defense played the role of coordinator of the field operations. Immediately after the event the police forces of the Governorate were deployed on the field in order to prevent robberies and to keep the roads reasonably free to allow the rapid circulation of emergency vehicles such as ambulances, search and rescue vans and fireguards trucks.

After two months of training which covered  fire fighting tools and techniques, rescue and first aid tools and practices with particular focus on water accidents, the Palestinian Civil Defense Brigadier Ahmad Rizig congratulated 30 boys and girls at the Beit Sahoor center of the East Jerusalem Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and delivered them the “Young Rescuer” certificate.