Red Crescent: Enhancing Readiness and Instilling Prevention Culture Key to Protecting Lives and Mitigating Disaster Risks

Kuwait, Oct 11 (KUNA) – Khaled Al-Mughams, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, affirmed today 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 was made during a celebration organized by the Society to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, observed annually on October 13, which this year carries the theme “Resilience Begins at Home.” The event was held in the presence of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the General Directorate of Civil Defense.

In a statement to KUNA on the sidelines of the event, Al-Mughams 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. He added that the Society is committed to developing awareness, training, and first aid programs using modern technologies, including virtual reality (VR), while enhancing the capabilities of its teams and volunteers and strengthening cooperation with relevant authorities to ensure rapid response and effective humanitarian interventions during emergencies.

He clarified that the Society’s Disaster Operations Center represents an integrated system for monitoring events, assessing risks, coordinating responses, and linking field teams and volunteers with relevant entities, thereby facilitating faster decision-making and enhancing readiness to handle various crises.

For her part, Head of the Delegation Anne Montavon, in a similar statement to KUNA, underscored the importance of strengthening communities’ capacity to face disasters, noting that families and local communities represent the first line of defense during emergencies. She stated that “communities affected by armed conflicts face compounded challenges due to the deterioration of basic services and livelihoods, and their declining capacity to prepare for and recover from climate and environmental shocks, which necessitates investment in understanding risks, developing early warning systems, and protecting critical infrastructure and services.” She added that building resilience requires strengthening local capacities and supporting volunteers, who are an integral part of the communities they serve. She praised the partnership with the Kuwait Red Crescent Society and cooperation with the General Directorate of Civil Defense in enhancing emergency preparedness and response.

For his part, Brigadier General Talal Al-Roumi, Head of the General Directorate of Civil Defense, emphasized in a similar statement to KUNA that “under the high directives of the country’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, through enhancing proactive planning and unifying efforts to protect lives and property.”

Al-Roumi noted that “Kuwait’s hosting of the Sixth Arab Regional Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction in February 2025, and the resulting ‘Kuwait Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction’ and action plan to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, exemplify the State’s commitment to developing an integrated risk management system and enhancing regional and international cooperation in this field.” He added that “the General Directorate of Civil Defense 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 readiness and consolidating a methodology of prevention and early preparedness.”

Kuwait reaffirmed its continued cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and its commitment to the goals of the Sendai Framework, while working to develop early warning systems and risk assessment tools, and to exchange international expertise, thereby ensuring the continuity of vital services, safeguarding national gains, and building a more resilient society. (End) S.L.M./M.Kh.