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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Monday emphasized the importance of institutionalizing crisis management efforts and drawing up actionable future plans to respond to natural disasters, diseases or other hazards.

What distinguished Jordan during the past months in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic was its rapid response and prompt measures that were taken to contain the spread of the disease, the prime minister told a meeting at the National Center for Security and Crisis Management (NCSCM).

Razzaz stressed that the government and all state agencies are united in developing the necessary measures, learn from lessons experienced during the crisis and work to correct them.

"We are a strong country and we have proven this under the guidance and direction of His Majesty King Abdullah II to work as one team," the prime minister said, adding: "we will not succeed in overcoming any of the dangers and disasters without working in the one-team spirit."

The meeting discussed the prospective launch of a drill simulating complex crisis scenarios during which the Kingdom is exposed to a second wave of the coronavirus along with other emergencies.

The "Arrows of the Right" exercise will be carried out by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army in cooperation with the NCSCM and multiple state agencies.

The exercise aims to evaluate the standard strategic, operational and tactical measures of the state's civil and military institutions in the event the Kingdom is exposed to a complex crisis (the coronavirus pandemic coupled with other events).

Its objective is also to test the state's capabilities in responding to a complex crisis, evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the national crisis management system at all levels, and ensure the development of standard procedures for all state institutions.

Razzaz, who is also the minister of defense, was briefed by the commander of the Royal Jordanian National Defense College about the drill, the scenarios it envisages, and the response expected from various state bodies when complex emergencies strike.

The premier hailed the scientific approach and expertise the exercise involves, saying that "simultaneous natural disasters and multiple crises in our region are not something unlikely. This is something justified and there is no exaggeration about it", he said.

He pointed out that the NCSCM had carried out studies on crisis management governance in the world, which underlined the importance of working as one team.

"This is the right time to conduct training on the ground to pinpoint the gaps that may appear as a result of lack of clarity or conflict of authority between the concerned stakeholders," Razzaz further emphasized.

Razzaz also stressed the importance of devising action plans for all possible disasters and calamities, including the proper storage of hazardous materials and called for hands-on training on the use and introduction of such plans.

The prime minister underlined His Majesty the King’s directives to use the NCSCM as an incubator for all state-managed crisis responses, indicating that the center boasts multiple capabilities and has a large database, in addition to having representatives of all government stakeholders.

The handling of any future crisis must be based on the description of the responsible party and the capabilities it possesses, Razzaz said, stressing the need to assign roles and define duties among the various concerned bodies.