“It is encouraging therefore to hear the very concrete steps which Africa and the Arab States are now taking towards achieving the seven targets, particularly reducing loss of life, the numbers of disaster-affected people, economic losses and damage to critical infrastructure.

“It has been a successful experiment to hold a joint meeting of the two regions given the common challenges you face.  Your commitment to collaborate recognizes the fact that disasters know no borders.”

Ambassador Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union, said that the African Union will work with partners to implement the Sendai Framework, build capacity,  promote legislative change and strengthen early warning systems.

“The African Union will seek to collaborate on achieving sustainable development informed by disaster risk reduction. Disasters do not make any distinction between borders and continents.”

The Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Abellatif Abid,  highlighted the use of technology and social media to deepen understanding of disaster risk. He also emphasized the need to empower local authorities in the area of disaster risk management.

Mr. Romain Darbellay, Director of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland, Tunis, extended an invitation to participants to attend the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, in May 2019 which will take place under the theme “Resilience Dividend -  Towards Sustainable and Resilient Societies”

“Without disaster and climate risk management development cannot be sustainable. The topics you have discussed here are closely linked to the discussions planned in Geneva. The outcomes of these Regional Platforms feed into the Global Platform and High Level Political Forum in 2019.”

Date:

14 Oct 2018

Sources:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Arab States (UNISDR ROAS)

Themes:

Early Warning, Governance, Disaster Risk Management

Regions:

Africa, Asia