The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has chalked out a slew of safety and security plans at Sealine area which is set to host another camping season. The MoI, in co-operation with relevant stakeholders, on Monday launched a campaign to intensify measures to enhance awareness and intervention in order to protect lives and property.
Under the slogan ‘walk safely’, the campaign features certain procedures and rules for camping, especially those related to traffic rules and regulations while all measures will be put in place by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) to ensure timely medical care for patients and accident victims.
As part of the plan, traffic patrols will be intensified at roads leading to camping places while investigation patrols monitor violations and track unregulated practices and hobbies that cause have traffic violations.
Brig Mohamed Abdullah al-Shahwani, director General of Traffic, said that the awareness campaign is aimed at enhancing security during camping in general to ensure safety for campers and visitors.
"The Traffic Department along with other parties will intensify their efforts to serve the campers and visitors at all camping places in the Sealine area," he explained.
A committee has been formed with the aim of planning, supervising and following up to ensure a safe camping season. He urged all to adhere to the directions from the authorities.
Lt Col Sheikh Mohamed bin Jassim al-Thani, director of the Southern Traffic Department, said actions will be taken to reduce accidents during the camping season. “There are strategic objectives for the department to deal with accidents and an executive plan has been developed to raise the level of traffic safety in the area,” he said.
"Traffic violations will not be tolerated. All activities by youngsters will be monitored. I urge parents to fully adhere to the conditions of rental, especially with regard to choosing the appropriate bike for children," the official said.
Lt. Fahad Shareed al-Abdullah, Traffic Awareness Officer at the General Directorate of Traffic, said that vehicles that are found to be violating the rules will be tracked and action initiated.
Capt Abdul Wahid al-Anzi, Traffic Awareness Officer, said the department has prepared a vehicle, equipped with the latest technologies, to carry out traffic awareness activities. “Awareness messages and instructions will be disseminated and leaflets distributed to youngsters,” he said.
Ali Darwish, assistant executive director of the Ambulance Service at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), said that the ambulance at Sealine is capable of responding to emergencies that may happen in the area.
"The Sealine area is covered by the ambulance throughout the year. One helicopter is set to serve the area during the camping season. And we are able to take the patients to the hospital and give them care,” he said.
Nasser Saadoun al-Kuwari from Mawater Centre presented suggestions and ideas to develop the show circuit in the area, the preparations for the current season as well as the conditions for participating in the show circuit and the safety measures in place.
Saleh Hasan al-Kuwari, director of the Natural Reserve Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, gave a briefing about driving habits that may affect wildlife and the environment and the measures taken against violators based on the Wildlife Law and the Ministerial Decision in co-ordination with the Sealine Committee and the Mawater Centre.
Guidelines and preventive measures to follow
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has requested campers to follow the relevant guidelines and preventive measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
These include maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks and following the rules regarding the size of gatherings determined according to the area and nature of the place, the MME said in a tweet on Monday.