Manama: In line with the directives of General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Civil Defence Council, Lieutenant General Tariq bin Hassan Al Hassan, Chief of Public Security and Chairman of the National Committee for Civil Emergency Management, launched the first phase of the "Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD)" project during an official signing ceremony. According to Bahrain News Agency, the ceremony was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and global logistics leader DHL. The GARD project aims to enhance national capabilities in emergency readiness within the civil aviation sector by developing integrated response plans for both natural and human-made hazards and by updating crisis management protocols at airports in line with the highest internationally recognised logistical standards. The Chief of Public Security highlighted that the project reflects the vision of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to build a more efficient and resilient national response system. He emphasised that airports are strategic gateways of sovereign and economic significance, requiring a high level of readiness to address various emergency scenarios, including natural disasters, technical failures, biological incidents, and radiological emergencies. He also acknowledged the joint efforts between government entities and international partners and commended DHL's role in supporting this global programme, alongside the technical and professional support provided by the UNDP. Hussain Al Shuail, Acting Undersecretary for Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, highlighted the importance of the GARD programme toward enhancing the civil aviation sector's readiness to respond to emergencies and natural disasters in the Kingdom. He noted that such cooperation strengthens the infrastructure of Bahrain International Airpo rt and ensures the continuity of critical logistical operations under exceptional circumstances. Al Shuail further underscored full commitment to supporting the implementation of the programme's outcomes and looked forward to strengthening collaboration with partners to achieve the highest standards of preparedness and operational safety. Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), praised the constructive cooperation with the Executive Office of the National Committee for Civil Emergency Management, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, the UNDP, and DHL Group in implementing the GARD programme. He mentioned that the initiative represents a successful model of international cooperation that contributes to enhancing the efficiency and safety of the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom. Al Binfalah expressed pride in Bahrain International Airport becoming the first airport in the Arabian Gulf region to join this global programme, aimed at strengthenin g the airport's ability to respond to emergencies and natural disasters with efficiency and resilience. He underscored Bahrain Airport Company's commitment to adopting best practices and international standards in crisis management, continuously updating emergency protocols, and working collaboratively with all airport partners to build national capacities that support the Kingdom's overall emergency and disaster management efforts. The GARD project is one of the leading global initiatives launched in response to lessons learned from natural disasters that have impacted airport operations worldwide. The programme provides tools for readiness assessment, specialised emergency plans, and practical simulation exercises, all contributing to strengthening national security systems and public safety. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the executive schedule for the first phase of the project was announced. This includes field assessment workshops, specialised training for emergency response personnel, and the dev elopment of an emergency response plan for Bahrain International Airport.
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