Short answer. Kuwait's General Directorate of Civil Defence lists 16 lines of supplies for a temporary home shelter: bottled water at 5 litres per person per day, long-life canned food, a first-aid kit, a radio, phones, torches with spare batteries, a fire extinguisher, bedding, hygiene items and a bag for documents and valuables 1. Food and water should last at least 2 days 2.
What is on the official list?
| Item | Quantity given | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-eat canned food with a long shelf life | Enough for the family members for at least 2 days | 12 |
| Bottled mineral water | 5 litres per person per day, for at least 2 days | 12 |
| Medical supplies: first-aid kit and the specific medicines needed by sick people and children in the shelter | Not specified | 1 |
| Television with satellite receiver | Not specified | 1 |
| Radio | Not specified | 1 |
| Landline and mobile phone | Not specified | 1 |
| Hand torches with spare batteries | Not specified | 1 |
| Fire extinguisher | Not specified | 1 |
| Storage cabinets that can be fixed in place | Not specified | 1 |
| Refrigerator to cool water and store what is needed | Not specified | 1 |
| Booklet with emergency instructions and numbers | Not specified | 1 |
| Mattresses and bedding | Not specified | 1 |
| Spare clothes | Not specified | 1 |
| Hygiene supplies: soap, disinfectant, towels, tissues, shampoo, underwear, well-sealed rubbish bags, women's sanitary products | Not specified | 1 |
| Psychological comfort items: Holy Quran, religious and cultural books, children's toys | Not specified | 1 |
| Bag for documents and valuables: passports, civil ID cards, bank cards, jewellery, gold, cash | Not specified | 1 |
What is specific to Kuwait's list?
- It is a shelter list, not a grab bag. The items are meant to stay in the room you use as a home shelter 1. See Building a shelter in Kuwait.
- Water is quantified: 5 litres per person per day 1, for at least 2 days 2. A family of four needs at least 40 litres.
- Several items need mains power or a network: a refrigerator, a satellite TV and a landline 1. The radio and torches with spare batteries work without them 1; see How to keep lighting during a power cut and What to do in a power outage.
- Comfort counts: the list includes the Holy Quran, books and children's toys for psychological comfort 1.
- Valuables go in one bag: passports, civil ID cards, bank cards, jewellery, gold and cash 1.
How long should the supplies last?
The Safety Guide for Emergency says to store food and fresh water for at least 2 days 2. It is a minimum; the other lines carry no duration. More on Emergency supplies in Kuwait.
Our guides cover several lines in more depth: What should be in a home first-aid kit?, Which radio and alerts do you need when networks are down?, Which documents and how much cash to keep for an emergency? and How to manage sanitation without running water.
Turn this list into your plan
The official list above is the reference, and you can assemble everything on it yourself. The Phaenyx plan counts each line for your household, adds the risks around your home and comes with the Phaenyx Safe app. Build your Phaenyx plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one official kit list in Kuwait?
Yes: the list in Civil Defence's leaflet on preparing a temporary home shelter (2020) 1.
How much water does the official list require?
5 litres of bottled mineral water per person per day 1, for at least 2 days 2.
Does the list include a grab bag for evacuation?
No separate evacuation bag is described. The list does include a bag for documents and valuables 1.
Which hygiene items are on the list?
Soap, disinfectant, towels, tissues, shampoo, underwear, well-sealed rubbish bags and women's sanitary products 1.
Sources
- Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Civil Defence — كيف تعد المخبأ الخاص المؤقت في المنزل (How to set up a temporary private shelter at home) — https://www.moi.gov.kw/main/content/docs/civildefence/ar/how-to-setup-a-temporary-shelter-at-home.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministry of Interior, General Civil Defence Department — Safety Guide for Emergency — https://www.moi.gov.kw/main/content/docs/civildefence/en/safety-guide-for-emergency.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Kuwait, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Civil Defence · كيف تعد المخبأ الخاص المؤقت في المنزل checked 2026-10-20
- Ministry of Interior, General Civil Defence Department · Safety Guide for Emergency checked 2026-10-20