Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
Kuwait City, Kuwait, 10 February 2025 – In a significant event for disaster risk reduction in the Arab region, the Sixth Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction officially commenced in Kuwait City. Organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Regional Office for Arab States in partnership with the League of Arab States and hosted by the Government of Kuwait, the platform runs until 12 February 2025 under the theme “Building Resilient Arab Communities: From Understanding to Action.”
The platform opened with a high-level session and press conference, featuring Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction; Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, Kuwait; Governor Abdallah Nassif, the Director of Natural Risk Management at the Ministry of Interior, Morocco; and Ambassador Khalil Ebrahim Al-Thawadi, League of Arab States Assistant Secretary-General for Arab Affairs and National Security. The speakers highlighted the platform’s critical role in advancing resilience, assessing progress, and driving political commitment toward reducing disaster risks in the Arab region.
Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah emphasized the growing complexity of disaster risks, stating: “We are in a world that is witnessing an unprecedented acceleration in the pace of natural and human risks, and the challenges facing our societies are increasing in terms of size and complexity. Disasters have become more frequent and diverse, as a result of climate change, rapid and unregulated urban growth, and environmental degradation, which makes it necessary for us to adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to dealing with these risks.”
Highlighting the region’s achievements while acknowledging the challenges ahead, Kamal Kishore emphasized the importance of governance in disaster risk reduction: “This region should be proud of the progress it has made in advancing disaster risk reduction, especially around strengthening risk governance frameworks, which is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development,” he said. “However, there are still many areas for improvement.”
The Arab region faces a unique and complex risk landscape, prone to both natural and man-made hazards that are increasingly intensified by climate variability and climate change. Over the past five decades, the region has experienced substantial economic losses totaling nearly $60 billion, primarily due to droughts, earthquakes, and extreme weather events. Droughts alone have had a devastating impact on rural communities in countries such as Iraq, Morocco, Syria, Jordan, and Somalia, leading to diminished land fertility, reduced agricultural output, and significant biodiversity loss.
Governor Abdullah Nassif highlighted the importance of building on the outcomes of the previous platform and enhancing regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction. “The Kuwait Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction represents a fundamental step in continuing political commitment and unifying efforts towards safer and more resilient societies, drawing on previous experiences, particularly the Rabat Declaration, to promote a proactive and sustainable approach to addressing increasing risks.”
Ambassador Khalil Ebrahim Al-Thawadi called for urgent action, stressing the need to move from policy to implementation: “The political will available of the Arab countries, reflected in all Arab policies and mechanisms, must be translated into immediate, tangible action on the ground. We must stop waiting until the disaster occurs to confront its repercussions.” He added, “We must begin to anticipate and prepare, coupled with regional early warning systems that extend throughout the Arab region,” he added.
Advancing disaster risk reduction in the Arab Region
Recent catastrophic events in 2023 underscored the region’s vulnerability, with earthquakes in Syria and Morocco and floods in Libya collectively claiming over 20,000 lives and displacing more than 243,000 people and huge economic damages, highlighting the urgent need for collective action and investment in disaster prevention and resilience-building.
The Sixth Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction provides an opportunity to address these challenges and assess the progress of disaster risk reduction initiatives under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2030. Discussions will focus on regional priorities and mechanisms to accelerate implementation over the next two years, ensuring communities are better equipped to face increasingly complex disaster risks.
The Kuwait Declaration for Disaster Risk Reduction, expected to be announced by the end of the platform, serves as a centerpiece of the discussions. This declaration represents a collective political commitment by Arab countries to prioritize investments in disaster prevention and resilience-building, aligning with the global Sendai Framework.
Knowledge exchange and integrating DRR with broader agendas
Participants at the platform, representing governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and academia, are engaging in sessions designed to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and identify innovative approaches to regional disaster risk reduction priorities. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Eighth Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for June 2025 in Geneva.
The platform underscores the integration of DRR with climate change adaptation and sustainable development goals. By aligning these efforts with regional and global frameworks, stakeholders aim to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to disaster risk management that benefits all sectors of society.
The Sixth Arab Regional Platform for DRR is expected to yield tangible outcomes, including the Kuwait Declaration for Disaster Risk Reduction, voluntary action statements from stakeholder groups, and a regional action plan for 2025–2027. These results will inform global discussions and strengthen the Arab region’s disaster resilience.