KUWAIT CITY, Feb 8: First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah emphasized the significance of the Sixth Arab Regional Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction, which will be hosted by Kuwait on Sunday. The forum focuses on enhancing preparedness and recovery efforts to build a safer future for the countries in the region.

In an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef stated that the forum, which will run until February 12, is a vital event aimed at increasing awareness of disaster risks, strengthening governance, and encouraging investments in resilience across the Arab region.

The forum, held under the theme "Building Resilient Arab Societies: From Understanding to Action," will conclude with the Kuwait Declaration. This political declaration aims to reduce disaster risks and underscores the commitment of Arab countries to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework and the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef explained that the forum, organized in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and in partnership with the Arab League, serves as a coordination mechanism for Arab countries. It provides a platform for stakeholders to review progress and agree on the necessary steps to expedite the implementation of both the Sendai Framework and the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, while reaffirming political commitment to their acceleration.

He further noted that the forum offers an opportunity to exchange expertise and experiences among participating countries, allowing them to develop comprehensive solutions and adopt a disaster risk management approach.

The forum, which will see participation from 22 Arab countries, will adopt a strategy for disaster risk reduction to be implemented over the next three years in the name of the State of Kuwait.

The outcomes of the forum and the Kuwait Declaration are expected to inform the 2025 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, as well as the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which will be held in Geneva from June 2 to 6, 2025.