National Civil Defense Service

•  Bravery · Honor · Service

Prevent.Protect.Respond.

The National Civil Defense Service protects the people of South Sudan and their property from fire and other disasters — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Report an emergency

One number for fire, rescue and ambulance.
Juba · operational 24 hours, 365 days.

Call 888 only in a genuine emergency. For inspections, certificates and general enquiries, use our contact form.

What we do

Five services, one emergency line

Our mandate under the National Civil Defense Service Act 2022 covers firefighting, search and rescue, and ambulance services — supported by disaster management and a prevention programme that reaches into communities.

Firefighting

Round-the-clock fire response across Juba, backed by prevention, inspection and enforcement of fire safety legislation.

Search & Rescue

Trained teams recover and protect people caught in collapses, road incidents and water emergencies, including our River Rescue Unit.

Ambulance Services

Emergency medical response and casualty transport, coordinated with the same 888 line that dispatches fire and rescue.

Disaster Management

Coordinated preparedness and response to natural and human-made emergencies, with government partners and communities.

Fire Prevention & Safety

Risk assessment, high-risk premises registration, community training and public education that stop fires before they start.

Our story

A cornerstone of national safety

The South Sudan National Civil Defense Service is a cornerstone of national safety and emergency management in the Republic of South Sudan. Originally established as the National Fire Brigade, the Service has evolved under the National Civil Service Amendment Bill 2022 into a comprehensive civil defense and disaster management institution.

NCDS is mandated to prevent fire hazards, manage disasters, coordinate emergency responses, conduct public safety inspections, and protect communities from natural and human-made emergencies.

We work under the Ministry of Interior with government institutions, communities and development partners to strengthen emergency preparedness, response capacity, public awareness and disaster resilience throughout South Sudan.

NCDS officers coordinating operations from the command office in Juba, with the national flag displayed
Our vision

Safety for all

“Safety for all without prejudice or discrimination.”
Our mission

Protecting lives and property

To protect the lives and properties of both the public and individuals within South Sudan against fire and disasters, guided by the core values and principles that drive the efficient and effective delivery of our service to the people of South Sudan.

888
Emergency Line
24/7
Emergency Response
365
Days of Service
8
Command Departments
News & updates

Latest from NCDS

Press releases, campaigns and updates from the Service.

Senior officers of the South Sudan National Civil Defense Service in dress uniform at headquarters in Juba

NCDS launches its new website

The National Civil Defense Service has launched ncds.gov.ss, bringing emergency advice, safety services and how to get involved together in one...

Read more
Our team

NCDS command

The Service is led by the Commissioner General, answerable to the Minister of Interior through the Undersecretary, and supported by senior command and eight Assistant Commissioners.

Portrait of Gen. Dr. Roden Loro Karlo, officer of the South Sudan National Civil Defense Service, in service uniform

Gen. Dr. Roden Loro Karlo

Commissioner General
Portrait of Lt. Gen. Stephen Pal Kun Kek, officer of the South Sudan National Civil Defense Service, in service uniform

Lt. Gen. Stephen Pal Kun Kek

Senior Command
Portrait of Lt. Gen. James Malith Gatluak, officer of the South Sudan National Civil Defense Service, in service uniform

Lt. Gen. James Malith Gatluak

Senior Command
A new red NCDS fire tender with water tank and mounted rescue equipment
Building capacity

Strengthening our response

Modern appliances, trained personnel and a disciplined command structure are the foundation of a service that can reach an emergency in time. Investment in fire tenders, rescue equipment and ambulance capability is central to the Pillars of Reform set out in our first strategic plan.

Our objectives commit us to identifying and recording premises with high fire risk, enforcing fire safety legislation, and providing prevention training to communities so that fewer emergencies happen at all.

Fire safety starts before the fire

Book a fire safety assessment for your premises, request community training, or get your extinguishers inspected and refilled by NCDS.

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