The National Awareness Campaign on Climate Hazards and Tsunami Waves kicked off today in Shinas, North Al Batinah Governorate. The four-day campaign is organized by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), represented by the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Center (NMHEWC), the National Center for Emergency Management (NCEM), the Ministry of Information, the Public Authority for Civil Defense and Ambulance (PACDA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Governor of North Al Batinah.

The campaign aims to raise awareness among the community and stakeholders about individual and institutional preparedness to mitigate the impact of emergencies, promote safe behavior among different community groups during emergencies, strengthen community partnership in disaster recovery, enhance the safety and protection system against multiple hazards, and raise public awareness about the multi-hazard early warning system, in addition to protecting the safety of individuals and property.

Among its objectives, the campaign also aims to convey various media messages to educate the public on managing severe weather hazards and minimizing associated risks, showcase the commandable collaborative efforts of various sectors during severe weather conditions in Oman, promote safety guidelines, raise awareness about official news sources to counter misinformation, avoid the spread of information from unreliable sources, and encourage best practices in dealing with severe weather in the educational sector.

The campaign targets local communities in addition to educational, economic, and security institutions, featuring meetings, seminars, and training sessions that include both theoretical and practical knowledge in various public schools in the governorate. Among the schools involved are Tabook Basic Education School for Girls (grade 5-12) in Suhar and Musa bin Abi Jaber Basic Education School for Boys (grade 5-10) in Suwaiq.

It is worth noting that Oman's geographical location on the Arabian Sea makes it vulnerable to tropical cyclones and tsunamis alike. This campaign emphasizes the critical importance of promoting a culture of swift emergency response within the community to minimize human and material losses. Initially focused on the coastal governorates, the campaign will expand to encompass all governorates of Oman.