17 September 2014
Arab Countries Highlight Regional Priorities for Post-2015 DRR Framework
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The 2nd Arab Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) provided the opportunity for approximately 400 Arab government officials, donors, policy makers, planners, academics, civil society representatives and development experts to discuss DRR in the region.

The Conference highlighted progress made in DRR efforts, reviewed implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015 in the region, and discussed regional priorities towards the post-2015 DRR framework.

UNISDR16 September 2014: The 2nd Arab Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) provided the opportunity for approximately 400 Arab government officials, donors, policy makers, planners, academics, civil society representatives and development experts to discuss DRR in the region. The Conference highlighted progress made in DRR efforts, reviewed implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015 in the region, and discussed regional priorities towards the post-2015 DRR framework.

The Conference, which convened in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt, from 14-16 September 2014, was organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the Government of Egypt, the South Sinai Governorate and the League of Arab States (LAS).

Laila Iskandar, Egyptian Minister of Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements, emphasized that climate change and population growth exacerbate DRR challenges in a region where millions are already displaced by conflict, adding that managing disaster risk is essential to development and social justice.

Speakers also stressed that: agricultural drought and climate change are changing the Arab region’s landscape, affecting food security, rural-urban migration and social stability; a 12.6% decrease in agricultural production over the last 12 years has led to significant losses of arable land; and over 200 million hectares of land are affected by drought and land degradation, leading to displacement and migration and increasing the possibility of conflict.

Wadid Erian, LAS advisor, stated that over 60 million hectares of land was degraded to the point of irreversibility; called for the post-2015 DRR framework to take into account the two billion people living in dry lands globally; and urged capitalizing on small farmers’ technology and indigenous knowledge.

Speakers also stressed that, inter alia: water scarcity is highest in the Arab world due to, among other things, inefficient agricultural practices, land overuse and groundwater depletion; and unhealthy diets lead to both obesity and undernourishment/malnutrition. They called for: investing in communities; climate proofing development; adopting an evidence-based approach to the problem of agricultural drought; and training trainers on climate adaptation techniques.

Virgina Murray, UNISDR’s Science and Technology Commission Vice-Chair, pointed to increased certainty regarding links between human displacement, violent conflict, socio-political stability and climate change.

Participants also discussed proposals to: raise funds from the private sector and other donors to combat flash floods; and establish a fund to manage disaster risk, with the private sector contributing a small percentage based on the construction cost of new properties. [Conference Website] [UNISDR Press Release, 15 September 2014] [UNISDR Press Release, 16 September 2014] [UNISDR Press Release on Private Sector Flood Aid]

 

 

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