The conclusion of the Emergency and Crisis Management Conference |...

27 February 2014 News

Today marked the conclusion of the Emergency and Crisis Management Conference titled "Preparedness and Response: A Shared Responsibility… A Ready Community," organized by the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi.

At the end of the conference, participants expressed their gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, for their continued support, which significantly contributed to the success and positive outcomes of the conference.

Participants also expressed deep appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his patronage and follow-up on the conference's activities.
The Authority extended its thanks and appreciation to all participants in the fourth edition of the conference for their efforts and contributions during the sessions, which played a crucial role in the success of this edition, and invited them to participate in the next edition.

At the conclusion of the conference, several recommendations were issued, emphasizing the need to continue developing advanced infrastructure capable of handling crises and disasters, utilizing best global practices, exchanging experiences among all stakeholders worldwide, and preparing detailed, regularly updated emergency plans based on global developments. The recommendations also stressed the importance of prior coordination between countries, especially at the regional and Arab levels, and increasing preparedness for all stages of crises and disasters, particularly through early warning systems. Support for specialized research centers in crisis and emergency issues was also highlighted, aiming to improve their ability to analyze early indicators and provide actionable insights to decision-makers.

The conference called for appropriate steps to ensure accurate information is obtained from official sources in crisis management sectors and to conduct precise situation assessments to achieve effective response and recovery. The necessity of having a "spokesperson" or "official spokesperson" for each sector to unify the media message and establish clear protocols for organizing cooperation among different crisis management rooms regionally, Arabically, and internationally was also emphasized. It suggested organizing joint quality training, particularly at regional and Arab levels, providing necessary financial resources and modern technologies, ensuring better performance in collective emergency work, and maintaining open, transparent, positive, and flexible communication with the community while leveraging modern communication tools and social media.

The recommendations also highlighted the need to monitor and positively engage with social media as a supportive factor in achieving response and educating the community on distinguishing between news and verifying information before dissemination. It suggested using modern applications to aid in this process and implementing legislation to ensure the private sector develops executable business continuity plans in coordination with the public sector and relevant authorities during emergencies. The inclusion of business continuity management in educational curricula at colleges and universities was also recommended, along with encouraging media to play a more effective and creative role in community preparedness and involving them seriously in developing emergency and crisis response strategies. The need for a community awareness strategy, continuous education, and collaboration between governments, civil society, and international organizations to address various emergencies and crises was emphasized.

The conference also recommended continued governmental efforts to identify risk registers related to climate phenomena and natural disasters, develop preemptive plans and strategies based on in-depth scientific risk assessments, and prepare programs and scenarios for handling these risks. Regular drills on these plans using the best technologies and equipment were advised. While acknowledging that climate phenomena and natural disasters cannot be prevented or controlled, the conference highlighted the importance of increasing awareness and knowledge to mitigate their impacts. It urged the community to adhere to guidelines from relevant authorities to ensure safety and protect property.

The conference emphasized the need to provide special attention to people with disabilities by equipping them with tools to enhance their awareness and ability to respond to emergencies. It praised the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority for issuing special editions of the "Emergencies and Crises" magazine and other educational materials in Braille for the visually impaired.

The importance of using modern communication technologies to locate the nearest shelters during emergencies or disasters, preparing schools to accommodate displaced individuals, and enhancing collaboration between governmental and private entities was underscored. The role of volunteerism was highlighted, with a focus on selecting, training, and supporting volunteers, ensuring their well-being and providing legal protection. The conference also commended the Authority's initiative to establish the "National Volunteer Program for Emergency and Crisis Situations."

On the second day of the conference, the third session titled "The First Responding Community" was led by Colonel Dr. Ghaith Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Acting Director General of Dubai Police Academy. It featured talks by Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Acting Director General of Civil Defense at the Ministry of Interior, on the role of civil defense in crisis and disaster management; Dr. Mohamed Atiq Al Falahi, Secretary General of the Red Crescent, on the Red Crescent's role in disaster preparedness and response; and retired Major General Brian Hori Howard, an active member of volunteer organizations in Australia.

The fourth session, titled "Risk Management," was led by Mr. Saif Jumaa Al Dhaheri, Director of Prevention and Safety at the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority. It included presentations by Mohamed Al Hamadi, CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, on nuclear risk management; Dr. Abdul Rahman Khalaf Al Anzi, Deputy Chairman of the GCC Emergency Management Center in Kuwait, on the proposed model for risk registers in GCC countries; and Andrew Maskrey, Head of the Risk Knowledge Section at the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, on common risks and shared benefits.

The fifth session focused on climatic phenomena and natural disasters and was led by Ahmed Awad Al Katheeri, Head of Prevention at the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority. It featured talks by Dr. Khaled Saleh Al Blooshi, President of the Geologists Association, on geological natural risks in the UAE; Chris Felton, Director of High Impact Risk Management at the UK Civil Emergency Secretariat, on climatic phenomena and their role in disasters; and Omar Ahmed Al Yazidi, Director of Research, Development, and Training at the National Center of Meteorology and Seismology, on the Center's role in mitigating weather and climate-related risks.