Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
Alexandria, Egypt – 30 June 2025 – Representatives from Arab states, regional organizations, and international partners convened from 28 to 30 June at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Abu Qir for the First Coordination Meeting of the Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters.
Organized under the auspices of the League of Arab States and hosted by AASTMT, the three-day meeting marked a significant step towards operationalizing the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction by establishing a coordinated regional programme to address marine disaster risks.
Strengthening Regional Capacities and Coordination
The meeting opened with remarks from Dr. Mahmoud Fathallah, Director of the Department of Environment and Meteorology and Supervisor of Humanitarian Affairs, Water Resources, and Disaster Risk Reduction at the League of Arab States, and Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar, President of AASTMT. Speakers highlighted the urgent need to enhance preparedness and reduce risks associated with marine hazards, including intensified storms, sea level rise, oil spills, and pollution that threaten ecosystems, livelihoods, and coastal resilience across the region.
Key Outcomes
Participants engaged in four thematic sessions covering:
- Development of the Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters Concept and the 2025–2027 Action Plan, facilitated by UNDRR and AASTMT experts.
- Presentations on global and regional marine disaster risk reduction efforts by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), European Union Commission, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED).
- Sharing of national experiences and lessons learned by Arab states.
- Identification of regional priorities, capacity-building needs, and coordination mechanisms to advance joint action.
Technical field visits to AASTMT’s Integrated Simulation Complex, Planetarium, Maritime Safety Institute, and College of Maritime Transport and Technology simulators showcased cutting-edge technologies that strengthen preparedness, response, and training capacities.
Towards a Safer Marine Environment
- The Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters (2025–2030) aims to:
- Establish a joint operational framework for preparedness, response, and recovery.
- Enhance early warning systems and preventive measures in line with international standards.
- Strengthen emergency response capacities at national and regional levels.
- Promote the protection of marine environments and biodiversity.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building among Arab states.
- Advance regional and international cooperation to build marine disaster resilience.
Next Steps
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a set of recommendations and an implementation roadmap to guide the programme’s roll-out in the coming years. The League of Arab States, together with AASTMT, UNDRR, and partner organizations, will continue supporting Arab countries to build the technical, scientific, and institutional capacities needed to reduce marine disaster risks and safeguard marine resources as critical lifelines for sustainable development and resilience in the region.