Sana'a: A training course in risk management and emergency response began today in Sana'a, organized by the Ministry of Electricity, Energy, and Water, in partnership with UNICEF.
According to Yemen News Agency, the six-day course, divided into two groups of three days each, aims to raise the awareness of 56 trainees from local water and sanitation institutions, the Rural Water Projects Authority, and its branches in the governorates. The course focuses on early warning to reduce errors and mitigate risks, identify, evaluate, and effectively manage risks in various environments and situations, and limit the recurrence of some incidents resulting from a lack of awareness of the causes of such incidents.
At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Electricity, Energy, and Water, Adel Bader, highlighted the importance of the course in risk management and emergency response, especially in light of the circumstances and risks facing the country as a result of the US-Zionist aggression, which has targeted the nation's resources. He explained that risk management involves planning, organizing, directing, and monitoring aimed at identifying, evaluating, and addressing the risks faced by institutions to achieve their objectives. This process requires analyzing and assessing the likelihood of risks and their potential impacts, and developing strategies to mitigate them. He emphasized the need for training and qualification initiatives to develop human resources and enhance their work efficiency.
He pointed out the numerous risks facing workers in the water sector, including recurring fatalities in sewage inspection chambers or open hand-dug wells due to suffocation. These risks are attributed to the low level of awareness among workers or implementing agencies and the failure to use safety and security tools.
The Deputy Minister expressed hope that trainees would benefit from the course content, which will focus on topics in risk management, environmental protection, and contract management. He noted UNICEF's support for training programs in the water sector, addressing the needs of beneficiary communities. Engineer Tawfiq Al-Haroush, National Coordinator of the Water, Sanitation, and Environmental Protection Cluster, reviewed the course's objectives: improving response to common errors, preparing for risks, and raising awareness of safety tools.
Engineer Anis Al-Arshi from UNICEF praised the Ministry's leadership in facilitating the course, complementing the training programs funded by the organization. He stated that the course will focus on training human resources at local water, sanitation, and rural water institutions, as well as field workers, while engaging stakeholders from among the beneficiaries to provide them with knowledge on risk management and safety tools. The opening ceremony was attended by the Director General of Water Sector Reform and Local Institutions, Zaid Al-Kahlani, and the Director of the Ministry's Training Center, Yassin Al-Maqtari.