KUWAIT: The health ministry's medical emergency department held a partial evacuation drill at Jaber International Stadium, in participation with Kuwait National Guard's (KNG) medical services, interior ministry's bodies, Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD), and Kuwait rangers. The evacuation process is a first and partial stage of completing the preparations for the opening ceremony of the large sports arena, Dr Khaled Al-Sahlawi, Health Ministry Undersecretary, said in a press statement. The main aim of this process is to train emergency teams and the stadium's staff and acquaint them with the building's emergency entry and exit points, in addition to locations of the clinics distributed inside the stadium that would enable them to perform their duties to the fullest, Al-Sahlawi added.

He also stressed the importance of holding such an exercise in excelling the ways to deal with huge disasters and accidents, to cooperate with other bodies in the country such as civil defense, KFSD, defense ministry, KNG, and others. Today's exercise has recorded the evacuation of around 400 people, and dealt with 20 cases of injuries that were sorted at the location, he said, adding that the pretend injured were transported to field clinics inside the stadium according to injury type and severity.

Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah said he looks forward to a great celebration at the launching of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. Speaking to reporters during a tour of the stadium, the minister said: "The celebration should suit the status of the stadium and the name of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad."

"We have done our best in preparation for the event," he said, adding that preparations and arrangements by the organizing committee for the celebration were in full swing. He considered the celebration for launching the stadium on December 18th as a "national event", hoping that it would be a fresh jumping-off for Kuwaiti sports. Necessary arrangements and measures are to be made in coordination with the Ministry of Interior during the festival. "The stadium is one of the best stadiums across the world in terms of designs, equipment and potentials," the minister boasted. - Agencies