Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
Kuwait, 9 February 2025 – The Early Warnings for All Multistakeholder Forum for the Arab States, held ahead of the Sixth Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, underscored the urgent need to strengthen early warning systems across the region. Co-led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the forum brought together governments, scientific experts, private sector actors, and civil society organizations to discuss advancements in early warning technologies and strategies for risk communication.
As climate-related disasters increase in both frequency and intensity, the forum emphasized that Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) are critical in saving lives and reducing economic losses. Experts highlighted innovative approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and IoT-based forecasting, to improve accuracy and ensure that warning messages reach communities at risk.
In his remarks, Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organization, reaffirmed that Early Warning for All (EW4All) is a top priority, stressing that “strengthening early warning systems, improving climate services, and enhancing regional and international partnerships are essential pillars for effective disaster risk reduction.”
Key outcomes and commitments
Discussions at the forum emphasized the urgent need for governments and stakeholders to accelerate investments in early warning systems, ensuring that every country in the region reaches full operational capacity. Expanding and modernizing forecasting infrastructure, strengthening risk assessments, and investing in capacity-building emerged as critical priorities to enhance disaster preparedness.
Recognizing that disasters do not respect borders, participants also called for stronger regional and cross-border cooperation. Enhanced data sharing, joint risk assessments, and the establishment of regional climate outlook forums were highlighted as essential measures to address transboundary hazards. Strengthening collaboration between national meteorological agencies, disaster risk management institutions, and local communities will be key to improving forecasting accuracy and ensuring timely, coordinated responses to climate-related threats.
At the heart of the discussions was a strong call for people-centered early warning systems that leave no one behind. The forum underscored the need to ensure that alerts and preparedness measures reach all communities, particularly women, youth, displaced populations, and persons with disabilities. Community-based approaches, improved risk communication, and greater accessibility to warning information were identified as crucial components in ensuring that early warnings translate into early action.
Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, emphasized the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, stating: “No single entity can build and maintain an effective early warning system alone. Governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society must work together to make sure no one is left behind.”
By fostering regional cooperation, technological innovation, and inclusive approaches, the Early Warnings for All Forum laid the groundwork for scaling up early warning systems across the Arab region. These discussions informed the deliberations at the Sixth Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, ensuring that early warning remains a central pillar of resilience-building efforts.