The Palestinian Civil Defence (PCD) (Arabic: الدفاع المدني الفلسطيني) is one of the main branches of the
Palestinian Security Services
The Palestinian Security Services (PSS) are the armed forces and intelligence agencies of the State of Palestine. They comprise several institutions, notably the Security Forces and the Police. The President of the Palestinian National Authori ...
under direct responsibility of the
Minister of the Interior
An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...
. The organization is responsible for emergency services and rescue in areas under the control of the
Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian National Authority (PA or PNA; ar, السلطة الوطنية الفلسطينية '), commonly known as the Palestinian Authority and officially the State of Palestine, .
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".
[Oslo II Accord]
''Annex I: Protocol Concerning Redeployment and Security Arrangements''
Article IV.2. 28 September 1995
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 Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is the unicameral legislature of the Palestinian Authority, elected by the Palestinian residents of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It currently comprises 132 members, e ...
. 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.
[Roland Friedrich, Arnold Luethold and Firas Milhem]
''The Security Sector Legislation of the Palestinian National Authority''
. ''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
/ref>
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.[ 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.
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.''The European Union supports the Palestinian Civil Defence: capacity building programme and provision of firefighting and rescue vehicles''
Press Release, 16 March 2016
/ref>
See also
* Palestinian Security Services
The Palestinian Security Services (PSS) are the armed forces and intelligence agencies of the State of Palestine. They comprise several institutions, notably the Security Forces and the Police. The President of the Palestinian National Authori ...
* Interior Minister of the Palestinian National Authority The Ministry of Interior and National Security is the branch of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) cabinet in charge of the security and the statistics of the population of the Palestinian National Authority. The Palestinian Central Bureau of ...
* Palestinian Civil Police Force
The Palestinian Civil Police Force ( ar, الشرطة المدنية الفلسطينية, ''al-Shurtah al-Madaniyah al-Filistiniyah'') is the Civil Police organization tasked with traditional law enforcement duties in the autonomous territory g ...
* Palestinian National Security Forces
The Palestinian National Security Forces (NSF; ar, قوات الأمن الوطني الفلسطيني ''Quwwat al-Amn al-Watani al-Filastini'') are the paramilitary security forces of the Palestinian National Authority. The name may either re ...
* Palestinian Preventive Security
The Palestinian Preventive Security (PPS) (Arabic: الأمن الوقائي; Al-'amn al-wiqa'i), also known as Preventive Security Force (PSF), Preventive Security Service (PSS) is one of the security apparatus of the State of Palestine. It wa ...
References
{{reflist, 30em
External links
Official website
(Arabic)
Civil defense
Palestinian Security Services
Emergency services in the State of Palestine