Civil Defence plans emergency response portal for people with special needs

The TRNC Civil Defence Organisation has started work on a planned emergency-response system intended to better support people with special needs during disasters and other emergencies, Yeniduzen reported.

The proposed system is designed to help emergency services reach people more quickly, support safer evacuations and organise interventions more effectively. The work includes a planned portal through which authorities could identify support needs before an emergency occurs.

The portal is intended to cover people with mobility limitations, visual or hearing impairments, and others who may need additional assistance. The Civil Defence Organisation said the information would help responders prioritise intervention and evacuation, with the aim of reaching people in an appropriate way and at the right time.

A meeting on the initiative was held at the organisation’s headquarters with representatives of associations and foundations working with people with special needs. Discussions covered the risks people may face in an emergency, safe evacuation arrangements, individual preparedness, prioritisation during rescue operations and coordination between institutions.

Yeniduzen reported that representatives of eight disability, health and community organisations took part, including the Cyprus Autism Association, the Thalassaemia Association and the Turkish Cypriot Orthopaedic Association.

Turkish Cypriot Orthopaedic Association president Günay Kibrit said the association was ready to work with Civil Defence on a safer and more inclusive system. Civil Defence Organisation president Hakan Balaban said the objective was to strengthen a rapid and effective disaster-management approach that takes account of the needs of all parts of society.