Yet much more remains to be done. That is why the region agreed in Kuwait in February to a new Action Plan for the years 2025-2027, and why the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction are convening with the League of Arab States this forum in Cairo to ensure progress continues to accelerate.
A central focus of the forum will be the implementation of the United Nations' Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to ensure that every person in every country is protected by early warning systems by 2027. Just 24 hours of advance warning can reduce disaster losses by up to 30 percent, and countries with robust systems experience disaster mortality rates six times lower than those without.
However, early warning is only part of the solution. There must also be a deeper transformation from viewing disasters as an inevitable part of life, to recognizing that they can be mitigated and even prevented. This means moving beyond managing disasters after they occur to addressing the underlying risks before they escalate.
Achieving this transformation depends on three critical elements. First, there must be a continuous and comprehensive understanding of risks. Too often, emerging threats are identified only after harm has occurred. Risk assessments must become a constant process - anticipating hazards, identifying who and what is most vulnerable, and integrating scientific evidence with local knowledge. This foresight can be used to create clear risk thresholds that trigger anticipatory measures, enabling countries to move from crisis response to crisis prevention.
Second, prevention is not the sole responsibility of disaster management agencies - it demands coordination across all sectors. For example, addressing the growing threat of extreme heat, which affects both people and infrastructure, requires collaboration among ministries of health, education, labour, housing, transport, and energy, to name a few. This is in addition to coordination with civil society organizations, the private sector, and the media - all of whom can support risk reduction measures to ensure no one is left behind. Disasters affect every aspect of life; their prevention must involve every part of government and society.
Finally, financing is indispensable so policies can be implemented. The good news is that investing in disaster risk reduction is one of the best investments countries can make, delivering returns in the form of avoided economic losses and accelerated development.
In the case of infrastructure, for example, integrating resilience into construction in developing countries is estimated to add about three percent to upfront costs, but saves four times that amount in avoided losses and disruptions, according to the World Bank.
The strategic imperative for resilience investments in the Arab region cannot be overstated. The Suez Canal is a stark example of this reality. Carrying approximately 12 percent of global trade and serving as a vital artery connecting continents, its vulnerability to climate impacts and seismic risks has consequences far beyond Egypt's borders. Protecting such assets is not merely a national priority; it is essential for global economic stability.
Of course, developing countries cannot shoulder these costs alone, particularly as they have contributed least to creating the climate crisis, which is exacerbating many hazards. That is why we welcome the call from the recent COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil to triple adaptation financing for developing countries by 2035.
As we gather in Cairo, I extend my gratitude to Egypt for its leadership on climate action and to the League of Arab States for supporting the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the region.
The Arab States face unique vulnerabilities, but they also possess the technical expertise, institutional frameworks, and scientific capacity to pioneer a new paradigm of resilience. I am confident in the region's ability to set an example for the world. This is why I am looking forward to our next Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which will be hosted by Qatar in 2028. This will be the first Global Platform organized in the Arab World and will be critical to informing global efforts in the final years of the Sendai Framework.
From Cairo to Doha, let us begin that journey today and work together to build a safer, more prosperous and more disaster-resilient future for all.
