Arab States advance regional action through first coordination meeting on marine disaster risk reduction

Alexandria, Egypt - 30 June 2025 - Representatives from 15 Arab states, regional organizations, and international partners convened from 28 to 30 June at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Abu Qir for the First Coordination Meeting of the Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters.

Organized under the auspices of the League of Arab States, hosted by AASTMT, and with active participation and facilitation by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Regional Office for the Arab States (UNDRR ROAS), the three-day meeting marked a significant step towards operationalizing the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction by establishing a coordinated regional programme to address marine disaster risks and by finalizing the draft concept note for the Arab Programme for Marine DRR.

Strengthening regional capacities and coordination
The meeting opened with remarks from H.E. Prof. Dr. Ismail Abdel Ghaffar, President of AASTMT, who emphasized:

"This meeting reflects the Academy's commitment to its role as an Arab centre of excellence in maritime transport and logistics. Marine disaster risk reduction is at the top of our priorities, recognizing its importance amid growing environmental and navigational challenges facing Arab countries."

He added:

"We seek to be an active partner in implementing the Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters by strengthening cooperation with international and regional organizations, exchanging expertise, and building specialized technical capacities."

H.E. Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Mahmoud Reda Fathallah, Director at the League of Arab States, stated:

"The League attaches increasing importance to disaster risk reduction and works through its specialized bodies to coordinate Arab efforts to enhance member states' capacities to deal with natural and man-made risks."

He highlighted:

"This meeting is an important step towards building an effective Arab roadmap to reduce marine disasters in cooperation with development partners and relevant organizations."

The opening session was also addressed by H.E. Ambassador Ali Abdi, Ambassador of Somalia in Egypt and Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, alongside senior officials from ministries of foreign affairs, interior, and transport.

Key outcomes
Participants engaged in four thematic sessions, including:

Development and finalization of the Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters Concept and the 2025-2027 Action Plan, defining the programme's strategic vision, objectives, and priority actions to build safer coastal communities.
Presentations on global and regional marine disaster risk reduction efforts, covering policies, technologies, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to strengthen preparedness and response.
Sharing of national experiences and lessons learned from Arab states to enhance mutual learning and identify scalable solutions.
Identification of regional priorities, capacity-building needs, and coordination mechanisms to advance joint action under the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Participants also conducted technical field visits to AASTMT's Integrated Simulation Complex, Planetarium, Maritime Safety Institute, and College of Maritime Transport and Technology simulators, gaining insights into cutting-edge technologies that strengthen preparedness, response, and maritime safety training capacities.

Towards a safer marine environment
The Arab Programme for Reducing Marine Disasters (2025-2030) aims to:

Establish a joint operational framework for preparedness, response, and recovery.
Enhance early warning systems and preventive measures aligned with international standards.
Strengthen emergency response capacities at national and regional levels.
Promote protection of marine environments and biodiversity.
Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building among Arab states.
Advance regional and international cooperation to build marine disaster resilience.
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