Brig. Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah (centre), Staff Col. Mubarak Shareeda Al Kaabi (left) and Major Muhammed Ahmed Jaber Abdullah address a press conference to announce details of the Watan Exercise 2023.
Doha, Qatar: The organising committee of the Watan Exercise yesterday disclosed that the activities for this year’s event will be held from November 6-8 in different parts of the country.
The Watan 2023 exercise includes office and field exercises that address events and situations expected to occur through the diversity and progression of exercise scenarios based on all potential risks and challenges. The risks are studied and selected by specialists and experts in the various fields the exercise covers.
Addressing the media yesterday, the Director of the Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Interior and Commander of ‘Watan Excercise 2023’ Media Cell, Brig. Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah said the exercise would test the readiness in normal and emergencies during major sporting events and activities organised in the country to measure the speed of response to various incidents. It would also activate the mechanism of command, control and cooperation to achieve integration of roles and implement the required tasks as quickly as possible. The exercise aims to enhance close cooperation, exchanging experiences, and identifying the best procedures among the participating parties.
The “Watan Exercise 2023” includes office and field exercises that address incidents and situations expected to occur through the diversity and progression of exercise scenarios based on all types of potential risks and challenges after studying and selecting them by specialists and experts in the fields covered by the exercise in its version this year.
According to Brig. Al Muftah, the previous editions of the exercises recorded several positive results and lessons utilised during the security and public safety plans in coordination with civil authorities, contributing to securing and hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Commander of ‘Watan Exercise 2023’ Staff Col. Mubarak Shareeda Al Kaabi said that all military agencies and more than 30 government institutions, authorities and agencies, and private sector agencies operating in security will participate in this year’s exercise.
Staff Col. Al Kaabi added that the exercise committee picked sites for the exercise that would not affect the public’s daily life. He called on the public to cooperate with the security personnel and choose alternative routes when necessary. Speaking on the exercise, he pointed out that the aim is to achieve several positive outcomes and improve the procedures and communication mechanism between all concerned parties.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Command, Control and Scenario Preparation and Execution Cell of the exercise, Major Muhammed Ahmed Jaber Abdullah, told the media that the ‘Watan Exercise’ will be held in different parts of the country from the sea, vital military and service facilities etc, including Doha, Doha Corniche, Dukhan, Mesaieed, Zikreet, Doha Port, Lusail and Northern parts of the country. He added that only local agencies will participate in the exercise this year.
Commenting on public responsibility during the exercise, he said, “The citizens and expatriates are contributors to the safety of the country. I would like to urge them to cooperate with security agencies participating in the exercise, not gather in the exercise areas and to follow the MoI information platforms for regular updates.”
