The National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority...

12 January 2012 News

The National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority will organize a scientific conference on the 17th and 18th of the upcoming month at the Bab Al Bahr Hotel, to discuss preparations and plans for handling emergencies in light of the country's focus on peaceful nuclear energy projects.

The conference will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, and Chairman of the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority.

The third edition of the conference, titled "Preparing for Future Challenges: Innovative Solutions in Crisis and Disaster Management," will take place at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Near East and Gulf Security Analysis "Inigma." It will feature participation from nine countries: Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, the United States, Australia, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and South Korea.

Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, will deliver the keynote address, and Prince Ali bin Hussein, Director General of the National Center for Crisis Management and Security in Jordan, will also participate.

Yesterday, the Authority held a press conference at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi to announce preparations for the conference, attended by Dr. Jamal Al Hosani, Director of Technology and Communications and spokesperson for the Authority, Ali Rashid Al Neyadi, Director of Operations, and Nader Haddad, Director of Development and Strategic Communication at Inigma.
Dr. Jamal Al Hosani stated that the conference aims to enhance knowledge among stakeholders in the national security and crisis management sectors at local, regional, and international levels by exchanging knowledge and expertise related to modern systems, methods, and procedures used to handle potential disaster and emergency scenarios.

He added that the conference is organized to advance the concepts of emergency and disaster management and deepen the culture of comprehensive national response to potential risks threatening lives and achievements. The goal is to utilize all available global resources, methods, and advanced programs based on international experiences and diverse expertise to protect lives, property, and national achievements.

Al Hosani noted that this edition of the conference reflects the Authority's vision and objectives to strengthen risk management capabilities and address requirements for business continuity and rapid recovery from any emergency, crisis, or disaster. It will involve planning, coordination, and communication at both local and federal levels, with participation from regional and international organizations, including the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The conference will include four working sessions, networking sessions, and two workshops, featuring 17 lectures by global leaders and experts in crisis management, presenting various experiences in handling different types of emergencies and crises. The Authority looks forward to leveraging global knowledge and experiences to develop innovative, coordinated, and joint solutions for better crisis and emergency management.

Conference Topics
Ali Rashid Al Neyadi reviewed the four main topics of the conference:
1. Emergency response and lessons from past crises at the United Nations and among friendly and sister countries.
2. Resilience and key challenges in disaster management, including state preparedness, planning mechanisms, and plan evaluation.
3. Coordination and cooperation in crisis management.
4. Tools supporting crisis management, particularly information environment, exchange, and communication.
Additionally, the conference will address state preparations and planning for potential emergencies in the field of peaceful nuclear energy, in line with the country's focus on this area. These topics will be discussed by experts from various countries.

Appropriate Solutions
Nader Haddad mentioned that the conference will feature numerous official speakers from various countries to discuss key issues in emergency, crisis, and disaster management and propose suitable solutions. Key topics include strategic planning and recovery processes post-disasters, natural disaster management, measuring capabilities, community resilience, and the evolving role of social media in crisis management.