Manama: General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Civil Defence Council, received Dr. Ioana Creitaru, Programme Specialist for Early Warning and Preparedness at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Crisis Bureau. The meeting was also attended by Lieutenant General Tariq Hassan Al Hassan, Chief of Public Security, and Asmaa Shalabi, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bahrain.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Minister commended the UNDP's role in enhancing regional and international cooperation and expanding partnerships in disaster risk reduction. He emphasized the significance of fostering collaboration with UNDP to build more resilient and sustainable communities. Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah highlighted the importance of developing a comprehensive national emergency management system that aligns with international best practices in risk reduction. He noted the adoption of a proactive approach to bolster readiness and national capabilities for effective emergency response.
The Minister stressed the crucial role of national early warning systems in facilitating rapid response and coordination among government entities, the private sector, and civil society. He underscored the necessity of ensuring that alerts reach all segments of society through diverse channels as part of comprehensive community awareness programs.
Additionally, Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah mentioned the development and updating of data on the national civil protection platform, launched in November 2023. This national project leverages modern technologies to promote a security-conscious culture within the community.
The National Committee for Civil Emergency Management, as part of a national approach to building an integrated crisis management system, recently concluded the Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) programme workshop. Bahrain International Airport became the first airport in the GCC to fully implement the programme, joining the network of internationally accredited airports under this model.
During the meeting, discussions focused on enhancing cooperation and coordination with UNDP, strengthening initiatives to build effective warning and response systems, and advancing disaster risk reduction frameworks in alignment with global directions under the Sendai Framework 2015-2030.