LAS, UNDRR Discuss Enhancing Cooperation

Ambassador Khalil Al-Thawadi, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Arab Affairs and National Security Sector at the League of Arab States, led the General Secretariat's delegation at the Sixth Arab Regional Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction, hosted by the State of Kuwait from 9 to 12 February. Organised jointly by the League of Arab States and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the forum served as a key platform for advancing regional efforts in disaster preparedness and mitigation.

On the sidelines of the forum, Ambassador Al-Thawadi held a series of high-level meetings with heads of delegations and representatives of regional and international organisations. Among these engagements was a meeting with Mr. Kamal Kurshi, Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, in the presence of Ms. Noura Al-Ashqar, Director of the Arab Regional Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Mr. Mustafa Saadi, head of the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Discussions centred on enhancing cooperation between the League of Arab States and the United Nations, underscoring the value of their existing partnership in supporting Arab countries in achieving the objectives of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction. 

The meeting further affirmed the urgent need to strengthen the Arab Regional Office in light of the escalating challenges posed by natural disasters and severe climate change impacts across the region.

As part of the discussions, the UN representative extended an official invitation to the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States to participate in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled to take place this year in Geneva.

 In response, Ambassador Al-Thawadi extended a reciprocal invitation to the Representative of the UN Secretary-General to visit the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States for high-level discussions with senior officials.