DRR Leaders from Around the World to Meet in Japan to Mull Measures to Reduce Disaster Losses

H.E Prof. Dr. Mohamed Farghaly, President of Arab Academy for Science,Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) participated,as member, in the meeting of the Results Management Council of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) that took place on 17 May 2010 to discuss measures to be urgently taken to cut mounting disaster losses. In a week long Kyoto Policy Forum from 16-21 May 2010, GFDRR in partnership with Government of Japan, Kyoto University (KU), Shizuoka Prefecture, and UN ISDR is organizing a series of roundtables and workshops on some of the major global challenges, inter alia, protecting critical infrastructure from catastrophic hazards, reducing vulnerability of the urban space to natural and technological hazards, and empowering local institutions and communities, to accelerate the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action.

GFDRR is a major global response of donors, emerging economies, developing countries, Africa, Caribbean, and the Pacific Group of States(ACP), European Commission, the United Nations, and the World Bank to assist developing countries to deal with the global challenge of disasters. GFDRR annually provides more than US $ 30 million in technical assistance to disaster-prone countries to build their national capacity for reducing and managing disaster risks as a core development agenda.

H.E Prof. Dr. Mohamed Farghaly, President of AASTMT is currently the member of two international United Nations Committees; the Scientific and Technical Committee of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and also member of the Results Management Council of GFDRR of the World Bank.

AASTMT has initiated since February 2008 a long-term strategic relationship with UNISDR that included several initiatives activities for the benefit of the Arab region in building the resilience of Arab countries to disasters. The activities included the establishment of a regional database for disasters and translation of disaster risk reduction terminology to the Arabic language. Also iniatives included the establishment of a Regional Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction in partnership between AASTMT, UNISDR and the Council of Arab Ministers for Environment.

AASTMT has also kicked-off a long-term strategic relationship with the World Bank through its Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction. Several activities are underway including the establishment of a regional response post-disaster damage and loss assessment team for the Arab region, providing e-learning courses on disaster issues with the World Bank Institute and also Cooperation which will include the south-south cooperation and the implementation of joint projects.