The United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially presided over the first meeting of its tenure as Chair of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Support Group in Geneva today. The session focused on addressing water-related disasters and the urgent need to strengthen global resilience.
Jamal Jama Al Musharakh, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, presented the nation’s priorities as Chair of the UNDRR Support Group for the period from September 2025 to July 2026. These priorities include accelerating the implementation of the Sendai Framework, aligning climate action with disaster risk reduction, and advancing knowledge and innovation in this field.
The meeting highlighted the increasing threat of water-related disasters—such as floods, droughts, and water scarcity—which have become a growing global concern due to climate change. Participants discussed their far-reaching impacts on sustainable development and human security.
Al Musharakh emphasised that “water-related disasters must remain at the heart of our collective DRR priorities, especially as we approach the 2026 UN Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the UAE and the Republic of Senegal.”
The session also featured remarks from Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, who emphasized the importance of coordinated, innovative, and inclusive strategies to address rising disaster risks.
The UAE’s leadership of the UNDRR Support Group underscores its enduring commitment to advancing multilateral cooperation to reduce disaster risks, foster resilience, and promote sustainable development through constructive partnerships and inclusive dialogue.
(Inputs from WAM)
