Preparedness and Response is Everyone's Responsibility: A Ready...

24 February 2014 News

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, the fourth edition of the "Emergency and Crisis Management Conference 2014" will be held in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, Tuesday, under the theme: "Preparedness and Response is Everyone's Responsibility: A Ready Community."

The conference, which attracts international attendance from experts and specialists in emergency, crisis, and disaster management, aims to elevate the state of emergency, crisis, and disaster management in the United Arab Emirates specifically and the region in general to the highest level. It seeks to ensure more precise and effective preparedness and response to any emergency or crisis, regardless of its nature, by maximizing the benefit from international experiences and expertise in this field. This will be achieved through optimal use of available resources, the latest and most advanced technologies, and through the development of frameworks and mechanisms to enhance coordination and cooperation among all relevant entities at local, regional, and international levels.

The conference will witness the presence of prominent figures including ministers and officials from various countries. The opening session will feature speeches from Dr. Nabil Elaraby, Secretary-General of the Arab League, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Community Development. Additionally, Mr. António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and a select group of senior officials and academics will speak.

On this occasion, His Excellency Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi, Director General of the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority, confirmed that the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlights the leadership’s commitment, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to enhance the roles and responsibilities of state institutions in safeguarding and protecting the nation's resources. This is aimed at achieving maximum effectiveness and professionalism to preserve lives and assets.

Al Romaithi noted that the conference will showcase the best global practices in the field, including programs, experiences, and international technologies that contribute to enhancing the country's capabilities to face emergencies, crises, and disasters. This is achieved by hosting experts and specialists from various countries and institutions around the world.

He pointed out that the Emergency and Crisis Management Conference is one of the leading specialized conferences in the region, underscoring the UAE's role as a key player in security, peace, safety, and protection.

The importance of the fourth conference is highlighted by the topics to be addressed by approximately 20 experts, academics, and specialists from the UAE, GCC countries, other Arab countries, as well as experts from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, and the United Nations. These discussions will cover five main areas: preventive forecasting, the role of media in raising awareness about crises and disasters, the community as the first responder, climatic phenomena and natural disasters, and risk management.

Under the theme "Preventive Forecasting... Not Improvised Response," the first session of the conference will address the development of national capabilities to face crises and disasters, resilience during disasters, and the role of business continuity management in handling crises and disasters.

The second session, titled "Media and Crisis Management," will focus on the role of media in community awareness, strategic media planning, and how to deal with media during emergencies, crises, and disasters.

The third session will be dedicated to the community as the first responder, focusing on the role of civil defense, the Red Crescent, and volunteers in responding to crises and disasters.

The fourth session will cover climatic phenomena and natural disasters, discussing ways to address earthquakes, floods, and mitigating their effects, as well as the role of climatic phenomena in disasters.

The fifth session will address "Risk Management," particularly industrial and nuclear risks, and will present, for the first time, the United Nations annual report on disaster risk reduction.