UAE personnel trained to handle disasters

Abu Dhabi: More than 100 people from across the UAE who work in the military, police, hospitals and relief agencies gathered yesterday for disaster response training.

It was the last day of the two-day Advanced Disaster Medical Response conference at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, an initiative by the federal government to train personnel in handling disasters.

Men and women listened attentively as lecturers from Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital described responses to various kinds of disasters.

Khalifa Al Katbi, an employee with the newly-formed Saha Company, said, "This is a very timely conference and the issues needed to be discussed considering all the events occurring around the world."

Al Katbi told Gulf News, "We thank God that we have not had to deal with major issues such as the ones being discussed today, but we nevertheless need to know what to do in case any such thing happens, God forbid," Katbi added.