Abinader inaugurates modern CEMED facility to enhance emergency response capabilities

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader inaugurated the new headquarters of the Specialized Emergency and Disaster Mitigation Corps (CEMED), a facility designed to strengthen the Dominican Republic’s capacity to prevent, coordinate, and respond to natural disasters and other emergencies.

Located at the August 16 Military Camp, the new 6,061-square-meter complex serves as the operational headquarters for the Ministry of Defense’s emergency response unit. The facility includes an administrative building, barracks, classrooms, a crisis management room, planning areas, a helipad, specialized storage facilities, and spaces dedicated to training and emergency preparedness.

As part of the inauguration, the government also delivered new emergency response equipment, including fire trucks, water tankers, rescue vehicles, all-terrain units, drones, mobile communications systems, search-and-rescue technology, and specialized canine units to enhance CEMED’s operational capabilities.

During the ceremony, President Luis Abinader said the project represents a major investment in protecting lives and improving the country’s preparedness for emergencies. He noted that climate change and the growing frequency of natural disasters require governments to strengthen prevention, planning, and rapid response capabilities rather than react only after disasters occur.

The government invested more than RD$454.6 million in the construction of the headquarters and the acquisition of specialized equipment, aiming to strengthen the Dominican Republic’s disaster response system and establish CEMED as a regional center for emergency training and humanitarian assistance.