The National Commission for the Prevention and Fight Against Disasters and the Organization of Relief met this Wednesday at the headquarters of the National School of Civil Protection. This meeting is part of the State’s commitment to continually strengthen its level of preparedness and its capacity to protect citizens, property, and national wealth, which requires reinforced coordination and increased mobilization of efforts to prevent disasters and limit their consequences.
At the opening of the proceedings, the Interior Minister, Khaled Nouri, indicated that this meeting provided an opportunity to assess the level of preparedness of the national disaster prevention and response system and the organization of relief, as well as its ability to ensure joint work and effective coordination among all its members.
He also stressed the necessity of moving concretely from a reactive logic to an anticipatory and preventive logic, in anticipation of weather disturbances expected at the end of this week and in preparation for the autumn and winter seasons, according to a statement released by the ministry in the evening.
Khaled Nouri added that the upcoming period would require permanent preparation, a high level of vigilance, and ongoing coordination. He also emphasized that every intervening structure must assume its responsibilities in order to guarantee a rapid response, the effectiveness of interventions, and an optimal use of available resources.
The Interior Minister called all concerned structures as well as regional and local authorities to raise their alert and vigilance levels, each within the framework of its duties, and to give priority to areas whose past experiences have shown vulnerability to floods.
He notably cited low-lying points, the beds of wadis, urban areas exposed to the accumulation of water, and vital infrastructures likely to be affected by the accumulation of rainwater.
The minister also called for the immediate implementation of preventive measures, notably by accelerating the maintenance and cleaning of wadi beds and stormwater drainage networks, by verifying the readiness of sewer networks, and by taking all necessary measures before any disruption occurs.
He further insisted on the necessity of ensuring the full operational availability of the various units responsible for interventions and of providing them with the equipment necessary for rescue and evacuation operations.
Khaled Nouri also stressed the importance of ensuring rapid and precise exchange of information and data among all interlocutors, so that decision-making rests on accurate and up-to-date information.
The minister also called for intensified awareness campaigns through the media, delivering clear and direct messages to citizens to warn them about the risks associated with approaching wadis and hydraulic structures and to invite them to comply with safety instructions.
On the occasion of this meeting, the Interior Minister paid tribute to several Civil Protection agents, executives, and volunteers, in recognition of their efforts and sacrifices in the fight against forest fires during the summer. According to statements by Civil Protection officials, the number of interventions in the firefighting sector approached 14,000.
According to data presented at a press conference held on Tuesday, Civil Protection carried out more than 1,000 interventions per day on July 21, 22, and 23, including 300 interventions dedicated to extinguishing fires.
Summer 2026 also recorded an increase of about 50% in the number of forest fires compared to Summer 2025.
