Cairo: Dr. Mohammad Hadid, President of the Jordan Red Crescent Society (JRCS), actively participated in the 2nd session of the First Arab Regional Forum on Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness, hosted at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The forum convened under the theme: "Together for Better Coordination and Effective Response."
According to Jordan News Agency, participants in the session emphasized the importance of investing in disaster preparedness and prevention, rather than concentrating solely on post-crisis responses. The discussions focused on integrating preparedness concepts into national policies and relevant legal frameworks, advocating for comprehensive, human-centered early warning systems that prioritize the most vulnerable groups and utilize unified data sources.
The meeting also recommended the establishment of central platforms to facilitate rapid and effective decision-making and suggested linking early warning systems to clear action plans. On a broader scale, the participants discussed enhancing joint coordination among agriculture, health, protection, and environment sectors, and highlighted the importance of involving youth and civil society organizations in early warning and response systems.
The session's main goal was to address several key issues, particularly the impact of climate change and conflicts on food security, with a specific focus on smallholder farmers, who make up approximately 80% of this group in Arab countries.