Secretary General of the Environmental Protection Association, Jenan Behzad, announced an international achievement with the acceptance of the association's membership in the "Making Cities Resilient" program of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction program, officially effective October 15, 2023. This aligns with the association's mandate regarding environmental and natural disasters and the impact of other disasters on the environment. Behzad added that the association's numerous and diverse memberships in international organizations related to disaster risk reduction, including the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR), provide a significant opportunity for exchanging experiences and building capacities. Furthermore, the association's president, Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab, is a member of the "Consultative Group for Disaster Risk Reduction in West Asia.".
On the local level, the Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection praised the efforts of the Ministry of Interior and its keenness to establish the National Committee to follow up on the implementation of the Sendai Framework provisions. In this context, Jenan Behzad, Secretary-General of the Society, announced the results of the survey study on disaster risk reduction, in which representatives from about 30 Kuwaiti and Arab governmental bodies and civil organizations participated in its celebration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, which was organized by the Society for Environmental Protection under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Firas Saud Al-Sabah, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs.
Behzad said: “90% of the participants agreed on the ability of civil society organizations to manage crises and disasters, and 91% of the participants supported the participation of civil society organizations in the government committees responsible for crisis and disaster management.”.
Janan Behzad revealed that “91% of the survey participants supported the need to expand community participation of Kuwaiti civil organizations in the National Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of the Sendai Framework.“.
Behzad concluded these remarks by appealing to His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, on the importance of including representatives from relevant Kuwaiti civil society organizations in the membership of this committee. This would enrich, strengthen, and enhance its outputs, methodologies, and working tools, given that these associations specializing in crises, emergencies, and disasters are directly involved and possess experts and specialists who contribute their national role and bolster the efforts of the National Committee for Monitoring the Implementation of the Sendai Framework.
