Dr. Jalal Dabbeek, Director of the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction at An-Najah, and Vice President of the National Agency for Disaster Risk Mitigation in Palestine, participated in a scientific seminar on strategic planning for disaster risk reduction which was organized by Palestine Veterans Association and the National Agency.

Attendees included Abdullah Hijazi, Chairperson of the Veterans Associations, members of the Political and National Authorization Committee, Colonel Muhammad Abu Libbeh, Director of the Central Training Institute of the Palestinian Security Forces, and Ziyad Muna from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In the beginning, Wasef Eriqat, President of the National Agency for Disaster Risk Mitigation, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the participants and thanked Dr. Dabbeek and An-Najah University for their cooperation. He then spoke about the history and development of the National Agency, its objectives, message, and contribution to the preparing the Palestinian society to be resilient to different types of disasters. He stressed the importance of considering disaster risk reduction and preparation as a national priority that Palestine should assume its place in the Arab and international strategy for disaster risk reduction.

Dr. Dabbeek delivered a lecture in which he spoke about the strategies related to the building of nations’ and communities’ capacity to face disasters, the evaluation and management of risks , basic concepts related to strategic planning in disaster risk reduction, the seismic hazard in Palestine, the extent to which buildings in Palestine are proof to disasters, the international regulations on the building of communities according to the international and regional systems including the Hyogo Framework for Action, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Moreover, Dr. Dabbeek explained that Seismology is a relative and probabilistic science not a factual one; it is based on observing the seismic activity according to history. Regarding the safe cities issue Dr. Dabbeek mentioned that over the next months there will be a campaign that is going to be carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Local Government. During the campaign 45 different municipalities will be selected and introduced to the requirements and standards of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign which include a ten-point checklist that those municipalities must adopt in order to qualify as safe cities.

He also reviewed the achievements that have been made so far with respect to the adoption of the seismic design of buildings in Palestine by the Supreme Organization Council. The Engineering Association will soon begin to coordinate with the Seismic Engineering Unit at An-Najah, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing to carry out necessary measures in this regard. Dr. Dabbeek also called upon media officials to seek truth and objectivity when publishing news about disasters and the accompanying analyses and to avoid exaggeration.

In the end, the participants recommended the importance of preparing for disasters and reinforce self-confidence of the Palestinian individual, increase his/her efficiency and awareness through publicizing the experience and holding such activities that are considered a major step in creating a Palestinian generation that is well aware of the concepts and regulations of public safety. The issue of disaster must be given enough attention and to be placed on top of the country’s priorities by including it in the governmental programs and plans.