Article 16 of the Saudi Civil Defense Law

This article addresses a practical matter for those working in the field in times of crisis, providing for meals at State expense for those carrying out civil defense work.

The scope of this provision is set by three elements of the text:

• The beneficiaries: those carrying out civil defense work. The text does not limit them to civil defense personnel, but by its wording covers anyone who carries out this work.
• The time: this is during emergencies, disasters and wars, not in ordinary circumstances.
• The conditions: they are set by a regulation issued by the Civil Defense Council; the article does not state the conditions of entitlement itself but refers to the regulation.

A disaster here has the meaning given in Article 2: anything that occurs, such as a fire, demolition, flood, storm, earthquake or any other incident, that is likely to cause harm or threaten danger to the lives of individuals or to public or private property.

This article is linked to Article 15, which makes the civil defense director in his area responsible for carrying out and coordinating civil defense operations, and to Article 17, which allows civil defense to call on those whom the interest requires to be summoned, and refers the regulation of their rights and duties to a regulation issued by decision of the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Civil Defense Council.

Anyone who wants to know whether they are entitled to these meals in a particular situation should refer to the regulation the Council issues.