Palestinian Civil Defence

Palestinian Civil Defence
الدفاع المدني الفلسطيني
Operational area
Country	State of Palestine
Agency overview
Established	1996
Annual calls	15,196 interventions (2020)
Fire chief	Major General Al-Abd Ibrahim Khalil
Facilities and equipment
Stations	46 (2020)
Website
	https://www.pcd.ps/

The Palestinian Civil Defence (PCD; Arabic: الدفاع المدني الفلسطيني) is one of the main branches of the Palestinian Security Services under direct responsibility of the Minister of the Interior. The organization is responsible for emergency services and rescue in areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority, as well as in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.^[1]^[2]

Palestinian Civil Defence Volvo fire engine

Establishment

The Oslo Accords envisioned an Emergency Services and Rescue branch (Al Difa'a Al Madani) as part of one sole security force named "The Palestinian Police".^[3]

On 28 May 1998, then President Yasser Arafat issued "Civil Defence Law No. 3 of 1998", which brought into effect a draft law of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The organization came under the authority of the Interior Minister, under the direction of the Director-General of Civil Defence. Also a Higher Civil Defence Council, led by the Interior Minister, was established to formulate and implement the general policy of the Civil Defence.^[4]

Tasks

The Civil Defence is an emergency and rescue organization which takes action in cases of natural catastrophes and emergency, including fire, rescue, external military attacks and other risks.^[4] The Civil Defence's target response time to emergency calls is 12 minutes.

Organization

The Civil Defence operates out of 46 fire stations spread across the West Bank and Jerusalem. The fire stations are distributed throughout the governorates as follows:

Jericho Governorate

Jericho

Tubas Governorate

Tubas

Salfit Governorate

Salfit
Deir Istiya
Biddiya

Qalqilya Governorate

Qalqilya
Hajjah
Azzun

Nablus Governorate

North Asira
Burin
Balata

Tulkarm Governorate

Tulkarm
Atil
Anabta

Jerusalem Governorate

Al-Ram
Abu Dis
Anata
Bir Nabala
Qatanna

Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate

Beitunia
Al-Bireh
Birzeit
Abwein
Beit Liqia
Al-Taybeh
Nil'in

Hebron Governorate

Yatta
Dura
Bani Naim
as-Samu
Al-Dhahiriya
Al-Yasiriya
Beit Ula
Halhoul

Jenin Governorate

Jenin
Siris
Barta'a
Al-Yamoun
Ya'bad
Qabatiya
Arraba
Marj Ibn Amir
Jaba'

International support

In June 2015, the European Union provided, as part of a €3.7 million grant, equipment to the Palestinian Civil Defence, including 5 rapid response vehicles and 9 additional vehicles. They were handed over to General Mahmoud Issa, the Director General of the Palestinian Civil Defence. Also provided were mobile lighting masts and electric generators.^[5]^[6]

In March 2016, the EU delivered 9 firefighting engines and three rescue trucks as part of a €20 million infrastructure programme in the Security Sector. They were handed over at the celebration of the conclusion of a capacity-building programme. Also 8 community police stations and a correctional facility in the West Bank were built as part of the infrastructure programme.^[7]

References

^ "A fact sheet on the ability of the civil defense to perform its duties during the Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip". Independent Commission for Human Rights. 28 November 2023.
^ "Dozens of bodies found in Gaza City neighbourhood, Palestinian rescuers say". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
^ Oslo II Accord, Annex I: Protocol Concerning Redeployment and Security Arrangements, Article IV.2. 28 September 1995
^ ^a ^b Roland Friedrich, Arnold Luethold and Firas Milhem, The Security Sector Legislation of the Palestinian National Authority Archived 2016-10-07 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Defence Law No. 3 of 1998, 28 May 1998. pp. 245-251 (3,2 MB). Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), January 2008. On website
^ EU provides rapid response and support vehicles and equipment for the Palestinian Civil Defence, 9 June 2015. Press Release PR/13/2015
^ EU provides vehicles, equipment for Palestinian Civil Defense. Ma'an News Agency, 10 June 2015.
^ The European Union supports the Palestinian Civil Defence: capacity building programme and provision of firefighting and rescue vehicles, Press Release, 16 March 2016. On website

External links

Official website (Arabic)

[1] "A fact sheet on the ability of the civil defense to perform its duties during the Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip". Independent Commission for Human Rights. 28 November 2023.

[2] "Dozens of bodies found in Gaza City neighbourhood, Palestinian rescuers say". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 July 2024.

[oslo2_annex1-3] Oslo II Accord, Annex I: Protocol Concerning Redeployment and Security Arrangements, Article IV.2. 28 September 1995

[dcaf_security-4] Roland Friedrich, Arnold Luethold and Firas Milhem, The Security Sector Legislation of the Palestinian National Authority Archived 2016-10-07 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Defence Law No. 3 of 1998, 28 May 1998. pp. 245-251 (3,2 MB). Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), January 2008. On website

[5] EU provides rapid response and support vehicles and equipment for the Palestinian Civil Defence, 9 June 2015. Press Release PR/13/2015

[6] EU provides vehicles, equipment for Palestinian Civil Defense. Ma'an News Agency, 10 June 2015.

[7] The European Union supports the Palestinian Civil Defence: capacity building programme and provision of firefighting and rescue vehicles, Press Release, 16 March 2016. On website

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