Governments, League of Arab States, and United Nations partners chart a path toward Early Warnings for All in the Arab region 

Arab governments, regional organizations, and United Nations partners gathered today at the Headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo for the First Arab Regional Forum on Early Warning Systems and Disaster Preparedness, held under the theme "Together for Better Coordination and Effective Response." 

The forum was jointly organized by the League of Arab States and the United Nations, in cooperation with a number of UN and international partner organizations, including the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the World Meteorological Organization. The forum brought together high-level representatives from across the region, including senior delegations from Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Egypt, as well as national disaster management authorities, meteorological services, relevant ministries, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, and regional organizations. In the opening session, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, underscored the urgency of collective action: 

In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, emphasized that the Arab region is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. He stressed that the shift from a post-disaster response approach to one focused on preparedness, prevention, and early warning has become an indispensable strategic necessity, requiring the concerted efforts of national, regional, and international actors. 

His Excellency further explained that the League of Arab States plays a pivotal role in leading and coordinating joint Arab action in the field of disaster risk reduction, through the adoption of the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2030 and the establishment of the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction, in addition to launching a number of specialized Arab programs and initiatives. These efforts contribute to enhancing the preparedness of Arab States and to building integrated regional systems for early warning and disaster preparedness. 

"The Arab region is on the frontline of climate and disaster risk. No country can face these challenges alone. This Forum is a milestone in building a truly regional approach to early warning and preparedness, where knowledge, technology and solidarity are shared so that every person in our region can be better protected." Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR, highlighted both the urgency and opportunity facing the region: "Climate change is no longer a distant concern; it is reshaping our reality through devastating floods, deepening droughts and relentless heatwaves. The question is not whether these risks are growing, but whether we will build systems strong enough, fast enough, to protect our people. Technology exists, knowledge is available and the economic case is clear. What we need now is steady political will and genuine partnership." 

He reaffirmed UNDRR's partnership with the League of Arab States in advancing risk knowledge, strengthening data systems and hazard mapping, and announced that UNDRR's Regional Office for Arab States will support the implementation of the Forum's outcome document in the lead-up to the next Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Global Platform for DRR in Doha in 2028. 

High-level focus on reality and the future of early warning in the Arab region 

The First High-Level Panel "Early Warning Systems in the Arab Region: Reality and Future" provided a strategic overview of disaster and climate risks across the region and examined the current state of early warning systems. Panelists, including the SRSG for DRR, regional experts on ICT and emergency telecommunications, the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), and senior national officials, discussed how to close coverage gaps and align national and regional priorities with the UN Secretary-General's Early Warnings for All initiative. 

Speakers emphasized that effective early warning systems require robust risk information, resilient telecommunications infrastructure, clear governance arrangements, and sustainable financing, and highlighted the crucial role of national emergency telecommunications plans in ensuring that alerts reach people in time, especially in remote and vulnerable communities. 

The Second High-Level Panel "Disaster Preparedness" reviewed the readiness of Arab countries to respond to disasters, sharing best practices and remaining gaps in forecasting, contingency planning, and response systems. Panelists from FAO, IFRC, UNDP, and Arab DRR institutions stressed that preparedness must be multi-sectoral, inclusive, and linked to long-term resilience-building. 

Over the two-day Forum, a series of technical sessions explored the full early warning value chain: 

Effectiveness of Early Warning Systems: Participants examined how governance, sustainable finance, and community engagement determine the performance of early warning systems, and reviewed ITU's support to the adoption of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) in Arab countries alongside national case studies. 

Integrated Approaches for Risk Reduction and Climate Action: This session showcased how multi-hazard risk assessments and strong institutional coordination can bring climate action and disaster risk reduction together, supporting resilient food systems, sustainable ecosystems, and socio-economic stability in the region. 

Best Practices from the Arab Region: Countries presented successful models for designing and implementing early warning systems and shared lessons learned and replicable practices, enabling peer learning among Arab States. 

From Early Warning to Early Response: Experts from meteorological services, humanitarian organizations, and line ministries discussed how to link early warning with operational preparedness, anticipatory action, and resilient recovery, ensuring that alerts trigger timely, coordinated field responses. 

Enablers for Strengthening Early Warning Systems: The Forum examined the roles of modern technology, sustainable financing, regional cooperation, and the media as key enablers, and highlighted the need to mobilize resources and partnerships for collective readiness. 

Innovation and Community Readiness: The final session spotlighted innovative solutions, including CAP, cell-broadcasting, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and simulations, and the importance of local communication chains and exercises to ensure that communities understand warnings and know how to act. 

An Open Forum on civil society, academia, and private sector voices complemented the programme, underscoring that early warning and preparedness must be people-centred and responsive to the needs of those most at risk. 

A regional platform for sustained cooperation 

Throughout the discussions, participants underlined that early warning systems in the Arab region can only succeed through strong national leadership, regional cooperation, and global support. Governments emphasized their commitment to strengthening governance, legal frameworks, and investment for early warning and preparedness, while partners reiterated their readiness to provide technical assistance and financing.