Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations H E Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani addressing the meeting.
New York: Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations H E Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani participated in the resumed High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030, at the United Nations headquarters.
Addressing the meeting, the Ambassador said that the Political Declaration on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which was adopted on May 18, 2023, constitutes a solid basis for renewed commitment to the Sendai Framework, and for intensified action to accelerate its implementation.
She noted that the Doha Work Program (DPoA) represents an important document to the least developed countries for a risk-awareness and mitigation approach, because the Program does not neglect the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the Sendai Framework, the comprehensive measures to mitigate multi-hazard crises, and building the resilience of LDCs.
Consistent with Qatar’s commitment and the importance it attaches to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Her Excellency emphasised that the State of Qatar has adopted several initiatives to strengthen local and national capacities for disaster risk reduction, including the establishment of the Civil Defence Council of the Ministry of the Interior in 2018 and strengthening its role in disaster risk reduction and response at the nati onal level.
She pointed to promoting inter-ministerial cooperation; the development of disaster risk reduction legislation, policies and plans; the establishment of organisational and coordination structures; and increasing investment in resilient infrastructure. She added that Qatar had worked to incorporate disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies and plans, and it continues efforts through the implementation of economic, structural, social, environmental and other comprehensive measures that contribute to preventing and reducing exposure to hazards, increasing preparedness, and improving understanding and assessment of disaster risk through scientific and technical cooperation.
In this context, she drew attention to Qatar’s hosting of numerous conferences, forums and workshops on disaster risk reduction, such as the 3rd Arab Preparatory Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, entitled 'Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Arab Region', in coordination with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the League of Arab States (LAS).
She expressed pleasure that Qatar was one of the leading countries in providing development and relief assistance. Qatar had made generous contributions to many countries and international organisations and had always been committed to the principles of shared responsibility and multilateral action.
Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations emphasised that investing in disaster risk reduction was an investment in resilience, stressing that Qatar would spare no effort to further implement the Sendai Framework and support comprehensive partnerships to accelerate action on disaster risk reduction.
