Qatar supports partnerships to address disasters
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi affirmed Qatar’s keenness to continue efforts exerted by other Arab and African countries by working together in order to address the dangers of disasters facing humanity and to prepare plans accordingly.
In a statement before the Arab-African Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in Tunis, HE alMuraikhi expressed Qatar’s support for the platform’s final declaration, stressing that Qatar will spare no effort to build regional and international partnerships to confront what threatens “our peoples, now and in the future”. “This emanates from the belief that development is a right for all and represents an added value that must be preserved for the prosperity of humankind,” he said.
He said that Qatar looked forward to seeing co-ordination and co-operation, working together to reduce the negative effects of natural disasters and emergencies on human life, population, the environment, national economies and social conditions in general, and minimising disaster losses by promoting the concept of preparedness and response as an integral part of national development plans.
HE al-Muraikhi emphasised that disaster response required a renewed effort to respond to new and emerging risks, adding, “We have adopted the Sendai framework, which replaced the 2005-2015 Hyogo Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The new framework for 2015-2030 will continue and requires international and regional co-operation.”
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs stressed that Qatar attaches great importance to the issues of sustainable human development as it is one of the pillars of its national vision. “Preparing and addressing the dangers of man-made or natural disasters is one of the most important ways to preserve national achievements and capabilities.”
He said Qatar supports the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015-2030 and its seven common objectives, pointing out that Qatar has enacted the necessary laws and regulations and established institutional arrangements such as the Permanent Committee for Emergency, which oversees the urban and civil expansion in line with all the standards of security and safety at global levels, in addition to investing in qualified personnel to work in the fields of rescue, development and relief for safety for all who reside on its land.
Al-Muraikhi added that Qatar has established a standing committee for rescue and relief operations and humanitarian aids for areas afflicted by catastrophes in brotherly and friendly countries. “Qatar has enacted the laws of humanitarian and non-governmental organisations and donor institutions, which direct support and relief to all countries affected by natural disasters or conflict-stricken and civil wars areas.”
He pointed out that Qatar had a history of supporting the efforts of States in co-operation with the UN and international agencies to help overcome these catastrophic effects, including in the Arab region and the African continent.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs highlighted that Qatar provides generous assistance, and is undertaking its role as an active and responsible member of the international community to bridge South-South co-operation and the rest of the world, and it is recognised as a leading donor to development financing.
On behalf of Qatar and the participating delegation, he welcomed the adoption of the Arab co-ordinating mechanism for disaster risk reduction and establishment of the special fund for disaster risk reduction by the Arab platform for disaster risk reduction.