Riyadh: A total of 42 government entities participated in the fourth edition of the "Istijaba 24" field exercise held along the Tabuk Region coastline on Tuesday to test coordination and emergency response readiness for marine pollution incidents.

According to Saudi Press Agency, during the exercise, which was inaugurated by the governor of Tabuk Region, operations lead Ryan Al-Taryani emphasized the importance of the increased participation, highlighting the growing cooperation and integration among government entities. The participating entities worked within a unified framework to evaluate preparedness and strengthen coordination and rapid, professional response to potential oil spills and other hazardous marine pollution incidents.

Al-Taryani explained that response exercises in Tabuk began with "Istijaba 7," which initially gathered more than 25 entities. The current edition has expanded to 42 entities from various sectors including environmental, security, industrial, and service sectors. This increase reflects the closer coordination among the participating entities and their dedication to enhancing capabilities, applying lessons learned from previous exercises, and improving coordination and response mechanisms.

He further noted that previous exercises have been instrumental in assessing operational readiness, while also strengthening the capabilities of national personnel and training them to effectively respond to pollution incidents involving oil and other hazardous substances. Al-Taryani added that these exercises have significantly enhanced preparedness and unified efforts among the entities involved.

The exercise scenario is meticulously based on the national environmental protection plan, as stated by Al-Taryani. It is conducted with the participation of the region's local committee, which oversees the plan and coordinates the responsibilities of relevant agencies, ensuring clearly defined roles and a swift response to emergencies.