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Is Palestine prepared for a major earthquake?
By Ahmad Melhem
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Palestinian officials fear that an earthquake with magnitude 6.5 or higher may cause extensive damage to buildings and even result in casualties given the lack of resources to confront such an incident.
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Dabbeek pointed out that the danger is not the earthquake itself — no matter how powerful it is — but rather the way buildings are constructed in Palestine. He said that the Engineers Syndicate has drawn up a new construction plan in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government, several other ministries and the Civil Defense to develop earthquake-resistant buildings and infrastructure.
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According to Dabbeek, preparations are underway in case a strong earthquake hits the country, such as the development of a disaster risk management system by the Palestinian government and its various ministries and agencies. He said that the goal is to create communication channels between the various ministries, institutions and agencies in the governorates on the one hand, and the central institutions and ministries in Ramallah on the other, and to involve the community and all institutions in the response process.
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The Palestinian Civil Defense classifies earthquakes at the top of its risk scale, according to the spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense, Nael al-Azza. He told Al-Monitor that the strategy set by the Supreme Council for Civil Defense is based on communicating with the local public, raising awareness about earthquakes and establishing emergency preparedness committees in cities and villages.
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