Decision of the Minister of Interior No. 1 of 2011 On the Regulation of the Work of Volunteers in Operations of the Palestinian Civil Defence

Decision of the Minister of Interior No. 1 of 2011

On the Regulation of the Work of Volunteers in Operations of the Palestinian Civil Defence

Having reviewed the Amended Basic Law of 2003 and its Amendments,

Having reviewed the Law No. 3 of 1998 on the Civil Defence,

The Jordanian Law on Volunteers for Frontier Cities and Villages No. 21 of 1965 in force in the West Bank,

The Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 113 of 2004 on the Governmental Health Insurance System,

In reference of the powers bestowed upon me by law, and

In accomplishment of the public interest,

I hereby issue forth the following Decision:

Article 1

The following words and expressions shall have the meanings designated thereto hereunder unless the context determines otherwise:

Civil Defence operations:	The set of necessary procedures to protect civilians and their properties; ensure the safety of transportation of all means; secure the smooth progress of functions of public facilities; and protect public and private buildings, establishments and institutions against the risks of air raids, other hostilities, risks of natural disasters, fire, maritime rescue, or any other risks.
The Directorate:	The Directorate General of Civil Defence.
Volunteer:	The person who applies, of his own free will, to the Directorate General of Civil Defence, expressing his full willingness to devote all or some of his abilities and capacities in the service of the homeland, contribute to averting the risks of accidents, disasters and wars, gratis, and pledge to exert all the efforts he can in the course of performing the voluntary work inside or outside the homeland, while being committed to compliance with the Civil Defence instructions during the period of his voluntary work, and who is admitted by the Directorate in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of this Decision.

Article 2

To be admitted to Civil Defence operations, the volunteer shall be required to fulfil the following:

1. Be medically fit to carry out Civil Defence operations.

2. Be at least 16 and not more than 60 years of age.

3. His basic work is not in conflict with his voluntary work.

Article 3

Volunteers shall be classified into two groups:

1. A general volunteer: The person who is trained for voluntary work in accordance with a plan, which is developed by the Directorate, regardless of his occupation or position, without being incompatible with such occupation or position.

2. A specialist volunteer: The volunteer who possesses special skills arising from education or expertise, such as a physician, engineer, and technician in areas with special relevance to rescue operations.

Article 4

The volunteer’s participation shall be in the following areas:

1. Fighting small fires and controlling large fires until the Civil Defence teams arrive.

2. Participating in operations of rescue and search for missing persons.

3. Participating in first aid operations and transporting injured persons to treatment centres.

4. Assisting in evacuation and shelter operations and providing social services.

5. Contributing to controlling and combating diseases and pandemics.

6. Monitoring, searching for and reporting any suspected substances and taking necessary precautions until specialist teams arrive.

7. Contributing to various awareness raising and training activities for inhabitants.

8. Helping inhabitants to reach safe places, providing social services therein, and raising residents’ awareness of the right methods to protect themselves against the dangers of wars, disasters, and pandemics.

9. Monitoring important facilities, vital establishments, and residential neighbourhoods against potential threats.

10. Strengthening the morale of the inhabitants and kindling the spirit of resistance and perseverance among them.

11. Any duties required by the situation.

Article 5

The specialist volunteer shall contribute in times of peace and war to the specialist, technical and professional operations, which he masters and assigned to him by the Directorate. He shall be entitled to take part in the operations provided for under Article 4 of this Decision.

Article 6

Volunteer authorities shall train relevant volunteers in coordination with the Directorate in consistence with the following:

1. In addition to using existing ones, training centres throughout the areas of the National Authority shall be responsible for training. These shall be equipped with all necessary training materials and equipment.

2. Training programmes shall be prepared in conformity with the trainees’ capabilities and the operations they are requested to implement.

3. Courses shall be held in line with patterns that fit with the volunteers’ free time and places of residence, for a period of 30 days.

4. For government employees, a basic training course shall be held for a period of 15 days at their free time, during their leaves or on official holidays.

5. Annual refresher training courses shall be held for a period of 10 days every year.

6. Volunteers shall be requested to take part in the manoeuvres conducted by the Directorate during the period of their voluntary work.

7. Specialist volunteers, who have academic qualifications and higher technical degrees, shall be exempted from the training course, if they so wish.

Article 7

1. The public employee, who wishes to volunteer, must obtain approval from the directorate and government department, to which he reports.

2. The public employee shall not be granted any financial honoraria in consideration of volunteering, other than the salary which he earns in accordance with the law.

3. The employee’s voluntary work shall not result in the disruption of the work of the department or section, to which he reports.

Article 8

For the purposes of organising voluntary work, cooperation shall be in place with the following entities:

1. Ministries, and civilian and military government departments and bodies.

2. Craftsmen’s associations, professional associations and trade unions.

3. Youth unions and university youth associations.

4. The General Union of Palestinian Women.

5. Sports and cultural clubs and scout associations.

6. Farmers’ association.

7. Charitable associations and civil society organisations.

8. Private sector companies and institutions.

Article 9

For the purposes of regulating voluntary work:

1. The Directorate shall issue forth an administrative regulation for regulating the work of volunteers.

2. The Directorate must provide a communication system between Civil Defence directorates in districts and volunteer groups.

Article 10

1. The volunteer must abide by the following:

a. Be committed to attend all training courses, which are held for the purposes of voluntary work.

b. Answer calls in a timely fashion.

c. Comply with the orders and instructions issued to him, and not refrain from performing the work assigned to him without excuse.

d. Adhere to good conduct, comply with public morals, and respect his superiors and colleagues.

e. Inform the competent authority of the changes to his workplace or place of residence address.

f. Volunteer for a period of no less than a year that is renewable as the volunteer wishes.

g. Keep the property entrusted to his care, such as the clothing, equipment and implements, make use of them in the respective purpose, and hand them back upon leaving or terminating the voluntary work.

2. Rights and benefits:

a. The Directorate must provide food, housing, clothing and means of transportation as is applicable to the Civil Defence personnel at its own expense.

b. The period the volunteering employee spends in training or exercise of voluntary work shall be deemed as an extension of his actual service in his original position.

c. The volunteer who is injured during training or exercise of voluntary work shall be treated at the governmental hospitals and clinics, as well as externally if necessary.

d. Without prejudice to the provisions of other regulations, in the event of death or permanent disability, the volunteer shall be treated in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Jordanian Law on Volunteers for Frontier Cities and Villages No. 21 of 1965 in force in the West Bank.

e. The Director General of Civil Defence shall be entitled to award certificates of appreciation and recognition to distinguished volunteers.

f. Based upon the proposal of the Directorate, the Minister of Interior, the Chairman of the Higher Council for Civil Defence, shall be entitled to award military decorations, medals and orders to the volunteers, whose actions are characterised by devotion, sacrifice, and self-denial.

g. The volunteer, who volunteers regularly for three consecutive years, shall be awarded certificates of training and experience, giving him precedence in the competition for occupying vacant positions in safety and industrial security teams at public and private institutions.

h. The Directorate General of Civil Defence shall grant each volunteer a personal volunteer card, which is issued for this purpose.

Article 11

1. Volunteer groups in Civil Defence operations referred to under Article 4 shall be established in private and public sector establishments.

2. Volunteer groups shall be established inside the neighbourhoods of cities, villages and refugee camps in order to carry out the Civil Defence operations provided for under Article 4 of this Decision.

Article 12

The Director General of Civil Defence, upon approval of the Minister, shall issue forth decisions on opening up voluntary work, determining registration centres, and establishing needed committees to receive applications, screening volunteers, and admitting those who fulfil required conditions in consistence with actual needs and requirements of the situation.

Article 13

Local committees shall form voluntary committees in each district to operate in coordination with Civil Defence district directorates in order to maintain communication between volunteers and ensure their permanent readiness for voluntary work.

Article 14

Expenditure on volunteers shall be secured from the following sources:

1. The Civil Defence budget.

2. A special budget to be allocated by the Ministry of Finance for this purpose based upon a request from the Minister and recommendation from the Director General.

3. National donations and grants from individuals and companies.

4. External aid upon approval of the Council of Ministers and at the request of the Ministry.

5. Cash and in-kind assistance and donations shall be accepted on a permanent basis or for specific periods of use.

Article 15

The uniform of volunteers shall consist of the following gear, which is handed over to them at the beginning of the training period:

1. A cover for head protection.

2. Civil Defence suit (overhaul).

3. Special shoes.

4. A shoulder badge.

5. A chest patch, including the volunteer’s number and name.

Article 16

1. Volunteers shall be summoned by one of the following means:

a. Personal call.

b. Telephone call.

c. Public address system.

c. Sirens.

d. Different media.

2. The volunteer must answer the call at the nearest gathering point or Civil Defence department or centre, join his group, and commence the tasks assigned to him.

Article 17

1. A special committee shall be established at the Directorate to receive complaints from volunteers for investigation and handling.

2. The committee shall present and examine proposals to develop the voluntary system.

Article 18

During states of emergency, in terms of discipline, irregularities and investigation, the provisions applicable to Civil Defence personnel shall apply to volunteers.

Article 19

1. The Directorate General of Civil Defence shall issue forth all the instructions needed to implement the provisions of this Decision.

2. The Civil Defence Council shall have the right to interpret the provisions of this Decision or propose amendment, deletion or addition.

Issued forth in the city of Ramallah on April 17^th, 2011 Anno Domini.

Corresponding to Jumad Awwal 13^th, 1433 Anno Hegira.

Dr. Said Abu Ali

Minister of Interior