Coping in a crisis

Sara Taher talks to Sanid, the UAE’s only national emergency relief programme, about its role within the community and how the people of the capital can get involved and learn how to help those around them.

Life in Abu Dhabi is associated with peace and stability. Indeed, these are just two of the reasons so many people choose to make this city their home. Yet just because we enjoy a pleasant life doesn’t mean that an emergency situation can’t strike at any moment. A few months ago we were alerted to this reality when the aftershocks of earthquakes in Iran rippled through our city.

It is situations like this where a group like Sanid, operating under the Emirates Foundation, comes in with a specific agenda for dealing with emergencies and natural disasters. As a national emergency response programme, Sanid trains volunteers all around the UAE to help authorities in times of crisis.

‘Volunteers are skilled in first aid, fire-extinguishing, crowd control and search-and-rescue, ensuring they are able to protect themselves and their communities in emergency situations such as fire, flood, road accidents or medical emergencies,’ says Maytha Al Habsi, chief programmes officer at Emirates Foundation about the group.

The scope of the volunteers includes helping out at national events such as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as well as sending them abroad on humanitarian missions such as supporting the Syrian refugee relief effort in Jordan and flood victims in Pakistan. Regardless of the situation, all volunteers that receive training under Sanid are better equipped to help in most emergency situations.

Volunteers receive training at two levels. The first level teaches them how to assess a crisis situation, provide first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The second level is more advanced. Participants in this group are taught to cooperate as a unit or a team and have more in-depth knowledge of health and first aid. They are also able to set up crisis reception points, establish a communications centre and they have access to more advanced team equipment for different emergencies. ‘Advanced emergency response volunteers are organised in local teams and have good local knowledge of the area where they might normally operate. They are also ready to work in close cooperation with local emergency response authorities,’ says Maytha. By receiving CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) basic training, all Sanid volunteers are able to assess the severity of cases in an emergency. ‘Volunteers are also trained in putting out different types of fires, conducting basic search-and-rescue operations and basic terrorism awareness techniques.’

Sanid was established in line with directives from the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum – and with the support of HH Ltn. General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Sanid was born out of the concerted efforts of the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) and Takatof, the social volunteering arm of the Emirates Foundation.

The group is partnered with the Swedish Civil Defense and the US Citizens Corps of Community Emergency Response Training. These partnerships have given Sanid keen insights into the different international strategies for dealing with emergencies and helping crowds.

By offering locals and expats various sessions in emergency relief, Sanid will be arming UAE residents with special knowledge in dealing with disasters that might strike without warning. ‘The biggest challenge is reaching out to a large number of people while keeping up the quality of training,’ adds Maytha.

While still new on the scene, Sanid has many long-term plans. ‘Sanid is undergoing a scale up of operations from 2013 onwards moving towards a regional expansion. By 2016, we expect to have more than 30,000 volunteers. Sustainability will be a focus during programme development and plans are underway for extended partnerships with governmental and other entities.’
To learn more about Sanid or see how you can volunteer, visit www.sanid.ae (800 825 2863).