Red Crescent: Readiness and prevention culture key to protecting lives and mitigating disaster risks

Kuwait Red Crescent Society Chairman of the Board of Directors Khaled Al-Mughamsi affirmed that enhancing national preparedness and consolidating a culture of prevention are fundamental to protecting lives, mitigating disaster risks, and building more resilient and recoverable communities. This statement came during a ceremony held by the Society yesterday to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, observed annually on October 13. This year’s theme is “Resilience Begins at Home,” with participation from the Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the General Fireforce.

Speaking to KUNA on the sidelines of the event, Al-Mughamsi emphasized that protecting human life and preserving human dignity constitute a core priority in humanitarian action. He stressed the importance of advance planning, training, raising public awareness, and investing in human capacity building to mitigate the impacts of disasters.

For her part, Head of the Delegation Anne Montavon underscored the importance of strengthening communities’ capacity to confront disasters, noting that families and local communities represent the first line of defense during emergencies. Montavon stated that “communities affected by armed conflicts face compounded challenges due to the deterioration of essential services and livelihoods, as well as their diminished capacity to prepare for and recover from climate and environmental shocks. These challenges necessitate investment in risk understanding, the development of early warning systems, and the protection of critical infrastructure and services.”

For his part, General Fireforce Commander Brigadier General Talal Al-Roumi affirmed that “under the high directives of Kuwait’s political leadership, the State of Kuwait has paid great attention to developing the disaster risk management system, considering it one of the pillars of national security and sustainable development. This is achieved by enhancing proactive planning and unifying efforts to protect lives and property.”

He added that “the General Fireforce plays a pivotal role in coordinating the efforts of state institutions by forming joint committees and working groups to prepare national risk matrices, analyze potential threats, assess their impacts, and determine priorities and responsibilities, thereby enhancing preparedness and consolidating a methodology of prevention and early readiness.”