Opening of the fifth session of the Emergency and Crisis...

13 March 2016 News

The National Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management Authority today opened the fifth session of the Emergency and Crisis Management Conference 2016 at the St. Regis Resort on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. The conference is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, with the theme "Innovative Approaches for a Safe Nation." It features a distinguished group of local, regional, and international experts and specialists in emergency, disaster, and crisis management and will continue for two days.

The conference opening was attended by His Excellency Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention; His Excellency Saif Sultan Al Aryani, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security; His Excellency Dr. Mughair Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Health Authority; His Excellency Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi, Chief of Abu Dhabi Police; His Excellency Major General Saif Abdullah Al Shaafar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior; His Excellency Dr. Jamal Mohamed Al Hosani, Director General of the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management Authority; His Excellency Dr. Jamal Sand Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research; His Excellency Jassim Hamad Al Zaabi, Director General of the National Authority for Border and Port Security; and several members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the state, as well as senior officials and invitees.

In his speech, His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, stated that crisis and disaster management has become a pressing concern for many countries today, sometimes due to the lack of strategic planning and good management, and other times due to the inability to anticipate and foresee them.

He noted that some view the current period as one of multifaceted and complex crises, whether they be wars, internal disturbances, terrorist attacks, or even destructive natural disasters. This necessitates studying, discussing, and thinking about how to address and combat these issues through scientifically sound methods based on rigorous scientific research.

He added that it is not a mere coincidence or strange that this conference carries the theme "Innovative Approaches for a Safe Nation." The conference’s exceptional and distinctive theme reflects an important strategy that embodies significant meanings, ensuring security and strength, and requires innovative methods in dealing with various types of disasters and crises. This calls for collective efforts from governments, societies, agencies, institutions, and individuals to confront and manage these issues with science, innovation, knowledge, and strength.

He emphasized that the challenges and dangers facing the Arab world today, with rapid developments impacting national security, whether through the extremist ideologies of terrorist groups that aim to dismantle the bonds between states and peoples or through acts of terrorism and sabotage targeting people, nature, history, and humanity, require strategic planning, strong and influential media discourse, awareness, and widespread public participation to effectively address and mitigate their impacts and eliminate them entirely, so that our societies can live in safety and stability and for all peoples to regain their civilizational, historical, and humanitarian roles.

For her part, Her Excellency Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, stated that to address disasters and crises, we must create opportunities for effective community participation involving all segments of society—institutions, agencies, groups, and individuals. Effective participation from community members and institutions in managing crises and their impacts has become a fundamental pillar of the planned and studied approach adopted by countries and relevant authorities.

Dr. Al Qubaisi, speaking on her behalf by His Excellency Salem Obaid Al Hussan Al Shamsi, a member of the Federal National Council, added that thanks to God and the foresight and wisdom of our prudent leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; and their Highnesses the rulers of the Emirates, visions have turned into effective strategic decisions, ambitious projects, and distinguished innovative programs.

She affirmed that our wise leadership has provided a legislative environment that includes clear and stringent laws safeguarding the rights of individuals and institutions, ultimately leading to the rule of law in a state of institutions that respects and protects individual rights. The Federal National Council, as a link between leadership, government, and society, reflects citizen participation in decision-making and consistently prioritizes addressing crises and disasters from a perspective of achieving comprehensive security, by exercising its legislative and oversight functions to update and develop relevant laws and discuss various issues directly related to national security and the affairs of citizens, preserving national achievements locally, regionally, and globally.

Dr. Al Qubaisi concluded her speech by highlighting that this specialized conference, with its discussed themes focusing on crucial aspects of emergency, crisis, and disaster management and its distinguished participants, represents a golden opportunity to review the experiences of different countries and exchange views to find ways to enhance coordination and cooperation with all concerned parties.

His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, stated that health security is an integral part of comprehensive security. Our leadership has placed great importance on the health sector, developing national health strategies capable of scientifically assessing various health challenges, incorporating modern technologies and knowledge. He noted that among these strategies are the development of comprehensive national programs to combat infectious diseases and their eradication in line with the World Health Organization’s directives. The leadership has also decided to include the health sector among the main national sectors within the National Innovation Strategy, focusing on encouraging innovation in providing health and treatment services using advanced technology and developing pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, in addition to working with strategic partners to advance medical research to treat prevalent diseases.

Dr. Al Owais highlighted that the UAE has adopted a collaborative approach with the international community and its health organizations, and the Ministry of Health has consistently participated in all scientific and health events. He noted that the country's achievement of certification of iodine deficiency elimination in 2013 reflects this constructive cooperation with international organizations, particularly the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the United Nations system, and the International Council for the Elimination of Iodine Deficiency.

He also mentioned that the UAE has developed a strategy to address non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases, launched a program to eradicate polio, and declared its elimination, as well as eliminating malaria, affirming that health is a fundamental human right.

In conclusion, Dr. Al Owais expressed hope that the conference would contribute to further support and cooperation among concerned institutions, both government and semi-government, health institutions, and others, stressing the need for international cooperation, as certain infectious diseases cannot be tackled by individual countries alone. International health security has become a top political concern, and there is a need for international health systems and standards aimed at protecting people and enhancing their abilities to avert dangers, prevent diseases, and reduce preventable deaths, with growing political will.

His Excellency Dr. Jamal Mohamed Al Hosani, Director General of the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management Authority, in his welcoming speech, said that the conference aims to discuss valuable and critical topics reflecting the current sensitive phase we are going through. He mentioned that the global dangerous and impactful changes necessitated their inclusion on the conference agenda to examine their causes, impacts, and solutions through studies and analysis.

He added that the Authority's efforts to organize this conference represent a true translation of the wise directives and forward-looking visions of our leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE; and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and under the continuous support and follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor.

Dr. Al Hosani mentioned that the Emergency and Crisis Management Conference began in 2008 with a confident and studied step, launching what was then considered the first initiative of its kind in the region and the Middle East, serving as a beacon guiding towards a goal the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management Authority seeks to achieve. This includes increasing the pace of planning, preparedness, readiness, awareness, and improving the performance and effectiveness of emergency response efforts in the UAE and the region, as well as globally in sharing experiences related to emergencies and crises.

He noted that the Authority aims for the Emergency and Crisis Management Conference to bridge communication, facilitating the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and ideas between decision-making institutions, especially those involved in crisis management at local, regional, and international levels, and to activate cooperation among all organizations and institutions to help reduce disaster and crisis risks. Despite the significant challenges, enhancing the knowledge base for crisis management has become an urgent necessity that cannot be delayed in light of the threats we face, ensuring the preservation of lives, property, and achievements.
Dr. Al Hosani thanked the Authority’s partners in organizing this important conference and the sponsors for their distinguished support and presence, hoping that everyone will achieve success and produce significant recommendations to meet aspirations and expectations.

Dr. Campbell McCafferty, Director of the Civil Emergency Secretariat in the United Kingdom, called for a focus on full readiness for emergency and crisis response and the allocation of contingency funds for national security.

During the first working session of the conference, chaired by Dr. Sultan Al Nuaimi, a researcher and academic specialist, Henry Haas, Director of Studies at the National Management Academy and former Chief of French Civil Defense, discussed crises from a security perspective. He highlighted that France has developed a specific strategy to identify the risks it faces and appropriate response plans.

Dr. Maqsoud Cruz, President of the Hedayah Center in the United Arab Emirates, provided an overview of the Hedayah Center, which was established as the first independent international organization working alongside the Global Counterterrorism Forum and other international partners to combat violent extremism. He then detailed the various dimensions of violent extremism, including ideological, political, communicative, economic, social, historical, ethnic, and psychological factors.

Dr. Abdulaziz bin Osman bin Saqr, President of the Gulf Research Center from Saudi Arabia, affirmed that Gulf security is indivisible, highlighting that the Arabian Peninsula, from southern Iraq to southern Yemen, forms a unified geopolitical entity with a connected geographic area, homogeneous population, and ethnic and historical unity. This region faces external threats due to developments in its surrounding areas.

He pointed out that the Gulf Cooperation Council, established in 1981, was a response to purely security needs. The Council's member states have withstood previous pressures and emerged from four wars with minimal damage, attributed to their belief in the principle of security cooperation and integration.

The second session, discussing modern methods in disaster and crisis management, was chaired by Dr. Saif Jumaa Al Dhaheri, Director of Safety and Prevention at the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management Authority. Dr. Robert Macfarlane, Assistant Director of Training and Readiness Standards at the Civil Emergency Secretariat in the UK Prime Minister’s Office, presented innovative methods for disaster response. Alex Stephen, General Manager for Government, Public Safety, and Security at Telstra in Australia, shared Australia’s experience in creating a national public awareness and warning system. Luna Abou Soueif, Regional Office Director for Arab States at the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in Cairo, discussed the priorities of the Sendai Framework.

The second day is expected to feature a keynote address by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, delivered on his behalf by His Excellency Faris Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Security and Military Affairs. The day will also include three sessions discussing global changes, causes, impacts, and solutions, the pivotal role of media in crisis and disaster management, and challenges and solutions in the recovery phase, as well as two workshops on strategic planning in emergency and crisis management and building readiness.

It is noteworthy that the Emergency and Crisis Management Conference, hosted in Abu Dhabi, is one of the leading specialized conferences and has been a unique initiative in the region and the Middle East since its first session in 2008.

The conference has addressed critical topics at local, regional, and international levels in its previous four sessions (2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014), enhancing awareness and knowledge among all participants and observers on the correct and effective management of emergencies and crises, underscoring the crucial role of the UAE as a key player in security, stability, and peace.

Opening of the fifth session of the Emergency and Crisis Management Conference 2016