The number of civil protection interventions in the Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra region for the year 2011 reached 7,247, compared to 8,305 the previous year. The regional command of the civil protection recently organised open days to mark World Civil Protection Day, under the theme "Civil protection and domestic hazards", which coincides with 1 March. These days aim to raise awareness among citizens about the danger of these accidents, which are responsible for thousands of deaths in Morocco every year, the most common being fires, incidents involving butane gas and electricity, food poisoning, falls, and burns. A ceremony was held on this occasion at the Laâyoune barracks headquarters in the presence of local authorities, elected officials, and other dignitaries, marked by the execution of rescue, life-saving, and fire-extinguishing manoeuvres, as well as an exhibition of rescue equipment and materials. In the Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra region, according to Moussahim Bouchaib, the regional commander of civil protection in Laâyoune, civil protection services in the region carried out 7,247 interventions in 2011 compared to 8,305 in 2010. His services are striving to reduce intervention times and increase the efficiency of their actions, while ensuring better coverage for the targeted populations.

He added that these days are an opportunity to highlight the scale of the mission and the sacrifices made by civil protection personnel for the preservation of lives, property, and the environment. According to him, these three-day open house events will allow for better sensitisation of citizens and students to the dangers they may face and provide them with the necessary advice. On the sidelines of these days, awareness-raising sessions were also held for citizens, particularly schoolchildren and students, regarding various risks, along with the distribution of related posters and leaflets. The regional command of civil protection in Laâyoune plans to continue its information and awareness-raising efforts throughout the year to familiarise the public with the nature of its missions, methods, and means of action. It should be recalled that during the bloody events that shook the city of Laâyoune in November 2010 following the dismantling of the Gdeim Izik camp, local civil protection agents were not spared from attacks by pro-Polisario elements, and several of their vehicles were set on fire.

By: Mohamed El Hamraoui