13 November 2015: The Arab region agreed on a roadmap for implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030 in order to reduce disaster losses, and which is intended to revitalize the disaster risk coordination mechanism established in 2007 by the League of Arab States. More than 120 participants representing governments, cities, academia, civil society, youth and international organizations met in Cairo, Egypt, to launch an Arab Strategy for DRR specific to the region’s needs and priorities and aligned with the Sendai Framework’s targets.

Countries also committed to continue efforts to establish national and local strategies for managing disaster risk by 2020, as well as national disaster loss databases in the region. According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), between 1980 and 2014, more than 183,000 people died and 65 million people were affected by droughts, earthquakes, floods and storms, with Arab economies losing an estimated US$24 billion. UNISDR also indicates that during the same time period, the number of disaster events has almost tripled in the Arab region, with the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increasing.

Participants identified the following as significant challenges: access and reliability of risk data and hazards; the gap between the scientific community and society; and the translation of commitments and policies into practical and funded solutions. Shahira Wahbi, League of Arab States, stated that statistical entities should be “part and parcel” in developing DRR plans and policies in the Arab region.

The meeting also called for: increased awareness of decision makers; improved information flow between local and national institutions and sectors; and exchanges of good practices across the region. In addition, the meeting launched the Arab Science and Technical Advisory Group on DRR to help bridge the science-policy gap and facilitate the development of well-informed DRR plans and policies. Tarek Sadek, UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) cited the poor interaction between science and policies as one of sustainable development’s main challenges that must be overcome.

The meeting, which convened from 8-10 November 2015, was held under the auspices of the League of Arab States and UNISDR. It was attended by representatives from Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Sudan, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). [UNISDR Press Release] [IISD RS Story on the Adoption of the Sendai Framework]