Kuwait will continue to support all activities to reduce risks of disasters
Lieut-Gen Al-Mekrad heads team to Mexico
KUWAIT CITY, May 25: Based on directives of the State Minister for the Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of Information Sheikh Muhammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, a Kuwaiti delegation headed by the Director General of Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) Lieutenant General Khaled Rakan Al-Mekrad participated in the 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which kicked off on May 22 in Cancun, Mexico and is due to end on May 26.
According to a press release, the opening ceremony of this global forum was held in the presence of the President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto, heads of governmental and other high-level authorities, and delegations from 190 countries.
The objective of the forum is to review global progress in implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which was adopted in Japan in 2015. It is aimed to identify the best practices and procedures that can be followed to implement this framework of disaster risk reduction by all countries.
In his speech, head of Kuwaiti delegation Lieutenant General Al-Mekrad expressed appreciation and gratitude to the host nation and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) for the high-level organization of the event.
He affirmed that the Arab strategy for reducing risks of disaster was agreed on during the meeting held in the State of Qatar early May, with its vital role being reducing such risks in the Arab countries.
Lieutenant General Al-Mekrad explained that the State of Kuwait supports and will continue to support all activities and procedures to reduce risks of disasters and to recover from them. Such a support falls within the framework of humanitarian activities.
He stressed that Kuwait follows the course of the Global Humanitarian Leader His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
During the forum, the delegations engaged in various discussions and talks during general and private sessions with several global experts and bodies with the objective of improving the procedures for reduction of disaster risks.
Accompanying Lieutenant General Al-Mekrad was Kuwait’s communication officer with UNISDR Major Meshari Jaber Al-Faras, and the First Secretary of Kuwaiti Embassy in Mexico Khaled Faleh Al-Azmi.
The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (Global Platform), as recognized by the UN General Assembly, is the main forum at the global level for strategic advice, coordination, partnership development and review of progress in the implementation of international instruments on disaster risk reduction.
It was established in 2006 and is now the world’s foremost gathering of stakeholders committed to reducing disaster risk and building the resilience of communities and nations.
The Global Platform is characterized by a format that facilitates dialogue and exchanges among all stakeholders, both governmental and non-governmental.
It features a high-level dialogue which brings together senior government officials, including heads of state and government, ministers, mayors and parliamentarians and leaders from the private sector, science and civil society.