Cairo: The First Arab Regional Forum on Early Warning Systems, Disaster Preparedness, and Response kick-started at the Arab League's headquarters in Cairo on Wednesday. Addressing the event, the League's Assistant Secretary-General for International Policy Affairs, Ambassador Khaled Manzlawai, emphasized the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change in the Arab region and called for the adoption of new preventive methods.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Ambassador Manzlawai highlighted the importance of transitioning from a reactive approach to disasters to one focused on preparedness, prevention, and early warning. He stressed that this shift has become an "indispensable strategic necessity," urging for concerted efforts at national, regional, and international levels.
The ambassador detailed the Arab League's commitment to supporting efforts to reduce disaster risks by adopting a relevant Arab strategy, creating an Arab coordination mechanism, and launching specialized programs and initiatives. These efforts aim to enhance the preparedness of Arab countries and build integrated regional early warning and preparedness systems.
Furthermore, the Arab League's official praised the forum as a regional platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership. The forum seeks to strengthen regional cooperation among countries and relevant international and regional organizations to improve resilience and protect lives through effective early warning and disaster preparedness mechanisms.
The two-day event is jointly organized by the Arab League and the regional offices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with other regional and international partners.