Al-Mughams: Consolidating a prevention culture is key to protecting lives

Kuwait Red Crescent Society Chairman of the Board of Directors Khaled Al-Mughams emphasized that strengthening national preparedness and entrenching a culture of prevention are fundamental to protecting lives, mitigating disaster risks, and building more resilient and recoverable communities. This statement came during a celebration held 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 with the participation 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 celebration, Al-Mughams said that protecting human life and preserving human dignity represent a core priority in humanitarian work. 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 keen on developing awareness, training, and first aid programs using modern technologies, including virtual reality (VR), while enhancing the efficiency 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 ICRC Regional 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 constitute the first line of defense during emergencies. Montavon said 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, commending 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, Commander of the General Directorate of Civil Defense, Major General Talal Al-Roumi, in a similar statement to KUNA, affirmed that “under the high directives of Kuwait’s political leadership, the country has paid great attention to developing its 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.”